Rolls Royce employees win record pay deal

Around 1,200 workers at the luxury carmaker’s plant at Goodwood, West Sussex, have won the largest single pay deal in its history, worth up to an inflation busting 17.6%.

It means a typical worker’s (Grade 3) pay will increase by £3,205 plus a one-off payment of £2,000. The figure is more than 7% above inflation, which is currently at 10.7%.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a top notch pay deal for the Rolls Royce workforce. Rolls Royce Motor Cars are famous and iconic because of the workers’ craft and expertise. For years the workers had been underpaid and undervalued but that’s changing. The union has won the best pay deal since the site opened.

“This is a testament to the organising efforts of the Unite reps at Goodwood. It’s also proof that our union’s laser sighted focus on jobs, pay and conditions is winning for workers."

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Workers at Goodwood build some of the world’s most expensive luxury cars, including the Ghost, Wraith and Cullinan.

Rolls Royce Motor Cars, owned by the German carmaker BMW Group, made £13.5bn in the first half of 2022.

The rise is the latest stage of an ongoing campaign to raise pay at Goodwood in line with union-recognised rates elsewhere in the premium sector. 

The pay deal follows an intensive negotiations and a campaign that included a 98% vote in favour of industrial action. 

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Unite regional coordinating officer Scott Kemp said: “Despite everything thrown at them, members showed the resolve needed to win this historic deal. For years workers at Goodwood have made the world’s most expensive cars while being paid the worst in the premium end of the industry. Goodwood is the so-called House of Luxury and its high time workers had their well-earned share of that reflected in their pay and conditions.” 

It comes as thousands of workers across the transport, postal services and healthcare sector have been walking out over pay and conditions.

Members of the RMT union working at Network Rail and 14 other train companies walked out last week and will continue action later this week and in early January after rejecting an 8% pay increase from operators.

Rolls Royce have been approached for comment.