Aerospace workers in Hampshire are set to go on strike this week due to grievances over poor pay.

Around 150 aerospace staff in Fareham are to take strike action after their employer, Eaton Ltd, failed to make a pay offer that would bring them in line with industry averages.

Unite members at the company voted in favour of strike action at the factory which produces essential parts and products for the aerospace sector.

Fitters, technicians, supervisors, and other staff will strike on Thursday, August 29, and Friday, August 30.

Staff are also scheduled to take further strike action across four days in September – between the 16th and the 30th of the month.

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In a statement, unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “This is a multi-billion-pound company making huge profits off the backs of our members, which could easily make a fair pay offer.

“Our members just want a fair wage comparable with others across the sector – they are highly skilled and valuable workers, yet they are being denied decent pay.”

The top skilled rate at the Fareham plant is just £32,500 whereas the average UK wages now sits at £35,700, the union claimed.

Unite regional officer, Mark Fisher, added: “This is a dispute of Eaton’s own making, and it is their mess to clean up.

“Our members want a pay deal that reflects both their skills and what other workers across the aerospace sector are earning.

“Eaton has refused this reasonable request, leaving our members little choice but to head to the picket line.”

Workers had previously sought a single year pay offer that would bring their pay into line with industry averages.

Staff rejected Eaton’s offer of tying them into a multi-year deal with a final offer of four per cent pay rise for this year, three and a half per cent next year, and then three per cent for the third year.