Rolls-Royce union in pay row

A union at Rolls-Royce has rejected a 4% pay rise and a one-off payment of £2,000 to ease workers’ living costs.

The company, which makes jet engines, is one of the biggest manufacturers in Britain.

It employs 20,000 people, but the union claims only 14,000 workers – mainly on the shop floor – would benefit from the rise. ■■Petrol prices have rocketed by 32.8% – the biggest year-on-year increase seen since data was first compiled in 1989.

The figure, as well as rising food prices, pushed the annual inflation rate to 9.1%.

To help counter inflation, the Bank of England recently increased its main interest rate to 1.25% – the fifth consecutive rise.