THE decision whether workers will strike at Airbus' Broughton plant will be made after the ballot closes today.

The workers at Airbus have been voting on whether to go on strike in a pay dispute with bosses.

Members of the Unite union working at the company’s factories in Broughton and Filton, near Bristol, have until today to vote in the ballot.

Around 3,000 staff could walk out in March if the vote is passed and no agreement with management is reached.

Last month, Unite said that despite extensive negotiations, Airbus has failed to increase its offer to a level that workers are able to support.

Then Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers at Airbus are committed to their jobs and their hard work and dedication is the reason for the company’s success. They fully deserve a fair pay increase.

“Unite is dedicated to prioritising the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and it will be giving its full support to our members at Airbus until this dispute is resolved.”

Last month, a spokesman for Airbus said the company would continue negotiations.

But now it is understood the company is waiting on word from the union on the result of the ballot before commenting further.

When the ballot was called, a spokesman for Airbus said strike action “will have a detrimental impact on our ongoing recovery from the crisis”.

The spokesman said: “The company made the offer in the context of an ongoing pandemic, which is the worst crisis our industry has ever faced, and the wider benefits structure which employees receive.

“Airbus in the UK managed to successfully navigate the first waves of the pandemic without the need for any compulsory redundancies at a cost of more than £100 million.”