Aircraft workers announce strike

Aircraft workers at aerospace company Marshall have announced a series of strike dates in a dispute over the company's grading structure.

The 180 skilled aircraft fitters at the Cambridge company voted on action because of a £7,000 pay gap between their grade and the next step up.

The first 24-hour strike will begin on 15 March.

Two further 48-hour strikes on 22 and 23 March and 30 and 31 March have also been announced.

Amicus regional officer Ian Maidlow said: "Our members have been living with this situation for four years and no amount of discussions with the company have managed to resolve the issue."

"We have had no other option but to resort to industrial action to get a serious offer from the company to try to bridge the gap."

Marshall made two interim pay offers to the aircraft fitters of 35 pence per hour and 50 pence per hour and both offers were rejected in two separate ballots.

The union has 650 members among the 1,300 staff at the plant.