Workers at a Fife yard have secured an above inflation pay rise.

Around 200 employees at Navantia in Methil will see the 3.3 per cent rise applied to their basic hourly wage and backdated to April 1. The workers covered by the new pay deal include welders, platers, joiners, electricians, and labourers.

The Unite trade union said its members had emphatically backed industrial action by 96 per cent in an effort to secure an enhanced pay offer by Navantia.

In November 2024, Navantia took ownership of all four Harland and Wolff dockyards, including Methil, Belfast, Appledore, and Anish.

Around 200 workers at the Methil yard will benefit from the pay deal (Pic: Submitted)

placeholder image — Around 200 workers at the Methil yard will benefit from the pay deal (Pic: Submitted)

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: “The Navantia pay deal at Methil was secured after our members emphatically backed taking industrial action in order to get an acceptable increase. It’s a win for our members at the yard and it will deliver a significant boost to take home pay.”

Unite has been backing Navantia UK being awarded manufacturing and construction work at its Methil and Belfast yards associated with Programme Euston on behalf of hundreds of Unite members. Programme Euston is the Royal Navy’s plan to build two floating dry docks to support submarine maintenance at Faslane.

Bob Macgregor, Unite industrial officer said: “Unite is pleased to have delivered a wage win at Methil. We continue to work hard to secure better jobs, pay and conditions for our members alongside campaigning to ensure government contracts are awarded to the yard in order to build a stronger future.”

In May, an £8million transport barge being built in Methil was name Navantia UK Seahorse a after its Fife facility.

The Navantia UK Seahorse will play a critical role in enabling the construction of the Royal Navy’s three FSS ships, transporting ship blocks between Navantia UK’s Appledore and Belfast facilities. At 85 metres long and 25 metres wide, and weighing approximately 1400 tonnes, the vessel has been designed for long-term use across future defence programmes.

That same month, Steve Chisholm steps into the role of general manager, joining from the Global Energy Group, where he was latterly director of operations and innovation