Workers at carmaker JLR have voted by a heavy majority to accept a two-year pay deal which will mean up to 9.8 per cent extra in wages.
The pay deal was ratified following union pressure and will be welcome news to the 21,000-strong JLR workforce at Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands, Halewood on Merseyside and the research sites at Gaydon and Whitley, also in the West Midlands.
Roger Maddison, national officer for the automotive industry at Unite, the union which supported the pay rise campaign said: “This is a very good result for JLR in particular and the car industry in general. The deal is nothing less than the workforce deserve as they have contributed greatly to the nearly £3bn profit made by JLR over the last three years.”
Agreements will also lead to 2,400 agency workers become permanent JLR employees from November.
Other elements of the pay deal struck today include new starter rates rising from 90% to 95% of the current pay rates, as well as an increased holiday bonus for the summer holiday.
An investment and sourcing agreement will guarantee the operation of all UK plants until at least 2022.