‘Outstanding’ pay deal

Unite has hailed the ‘outstanding’ two-year pay deal at the luxury car maker Aston Martin which has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the workforce.

“This outstanding deal – the best deal in the long proud history of Aston Martin – is the culmination of many months of difficult negotiations between Unite and the company during which our shop stewards and members have been magnificent in the support of their union,”  said Unite regional officer Tim Parker.

The workforce voted by a massive majority of 92 per cent in favour of acceptance.

“This record deal recognises the tremendous efforts and great skills that the whole of the Aston Martin workforce has continually contributed during many very difficult years recently to maintain Aston Martin as a worldwide renowned UK producer of fantastic luxury premier cars, which have a great future,” he added.

“The agreement to extend the existing Unite trade union recognition agreement to cover the new Aston Martin St Athan site in Wales signifies both the company’s and Unite’s commitment to work together to secure the long term future of the business and the security of all our members jobs across the UK .

“Production at St Athan is forecast to start at the end of 2018, early 2019.”

The 2016 settlement and two-year pay agreement for all Aston Martin workers, gives shop floor and staff a £379 lump sum in December 2016,  consolidation of £650 (equivalent to 2.2 per cent for a grade C worker) into 2016 new base pay rates, followed on January 1, 2017 by a further three per cent increase on pay rates.

On January 1, 2018, there will be a general increase in pay of three per cent or RPI plus 0.5 per cent, whichever is the greater.

Regarding the Aston Martin defined benefit (DB) pension scheme, a joint working party will consider alternatives to the proposed closure of the DB scheme to future accrual, including the potential introduction of career related average earnings (CARE) scheme.