Yeovil workers backed by TUC in £1 billion helicopter contract plea
Leonardo staff urge government to secure thousands of jobs with new defence contract
Yeovil’s Trades Union Council is rallying behind helicopter workers at Leonardo’s Yeovil factory, as they await a crucial decision from the government concerning a £1 billion helicopter order.
The order, for a new Medium Lift Helicopter (MLH) for the Ministry of Defence, is said to be pivotal for safeguarding 3,300 jobs at the Yeovil facility and hundreds more in the regional defence supply chain.
Leonardo's ownership group in Italy has indicated the potential closure of the Yeovil factory if the contract decision is delayed much further.
Trade union leaders at Leonardo have already reached out to Prime Minister Keir Starmer to seek a prompt and definite decision regarding the MLH programme as part of the Government’s Defence Investment Plan.
Union sources at Yeovil have expressed concerns that delaying the decision until March might be "too late."
National Significance
A joint statement from UK defence sector workers highlights the importance of securing the deal, noting, "Leonardo Yeovil is Britain’s last remaining helicopter facility, capable of designing, manufacturing, and sustaining military rotary-wing aircraft.”
The statement further stresses the site's economic contribution beyond the immediate jobs, emphasizing the benefits to a highly skilled and unionized workforce and a national supply chain. These jobs are described as "high-value industrial jobs" critical to economic growth.
It read: “Leonardo Yeovil is Britain’s the last remaining helicopter facility, capable of designing, manufacturing, and sustaining military rotary-wing aircraft.
“The economic value of the Somerset site extends well beyond the immediate workforce. It supports a highly skilled, unionised workforce and a national supply chain that delivers substantial returns to the Exchequer. These are precisely the types of high-value industrial jobs that a government committed to growth should be seeking to protect and expand.”
Upcoming Rally
UNITE, one of the UK’s largest trade unions, has launched a petition urging the government to support British jobs. On 25th February, Leonardo staff along with joint trade union members will present this petition to Number 10 Downing Street and hold a rally in London.
The Government has previously told us that a decision will be made before the end of next month.
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