A LONG -running dispute between Rolls-Royce, Barnoldswick and members of the Unite union has come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Unite said earlier today its members at the factory had accepted an enhanced agreement with Rolls-Royce and that its action - which began early last year - to secure the future of the site was now over.

Rolls-Royce also issued a statement welcoming coming to an agreement with the union, adding it could now ‘move forward with certainty.

Following a ballot the workers at the factory, who are members of Unite, accepted an enhanced agreement, extending protections previously secured in 2020, including a commitment that there will be no compulsory redundancies for five years and manufacturing will be undertaken on the site for at least 10 years.

Steve Turner, Unite assistant general secretary, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for the workers at Barnoldswick who have stood solidly in support of one another and their community in the fight for a long-term future and cast iron guarantees for their plant.

“Through the leadership of their shop stewards and local Unite officer, a confident, well organised workforce have once again demonstrated their willingness to act collectively and win. This dispute should act as an inspiration to all facing similar challenges as we transition to a greener economy.

“From the very outset of this dispute, Unite has always fundamentally believed that Barnoldswick could and should have a viable long-term future and the deal reached between the union and the management at Rolls-Royce has secured that aim.”

A spokesperson for Rolls-Royce added: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Unite that allows us to focus on the future of Barnoldswick.

“Rolls-Royce, like the entire aviation industry, is facing an unprecedented impact from the Covid-19 pandemic and we have had to restructure to address the resulting drop in workload.

“Both the company and the trade union have had to work hard to reach this agreement and we now look forward to working with Unite to ensure Barnoldswick can move forward with certainty.”

Unite members started strike action following an announcement early in 2020 by Rolls-Royce that it intended to move much of the work from Barnoldswick to Singapore.

A further period of strikes took place in the summer after Unite believed earlier agreements were not being honoured by Rolls-Royce.

Unite says a notable factor in its successful campaign was the strong support the workers received from the local community.

As there was a clear understanding that Rolls-Royce’s continued presence was essential for the town’s continued prosperity.

Unite regional officer Ross Quinn said: “This has been a long and complex campaign but the commitment, determination and passion of our union on-site has secured this fantastic result for the whole community

“Unite is looking forward to working closely with Rolls-Royce to ensure that the deal that has been agreed is fully implemented and to ensure that the Barnoldswick factory has a bright and long-term future.”