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A MAJOR car firm is all set to give out a one-off £1,000 cost of living payment to thousands of workers.
Luxury car maker Aston Martin has confirmed its workforce in the UK will get the added benefit to help fight the high cost of living.
Bosses at Aston Martin acknowledged the cost of living crisis and said the payment was built on its “long-standing support for its people”.
Some 2,500 people working for the car giant are set to receive the money which could help ease out some of the financial hardships.
Alongside the one-off payment, workers and contractors including technicians and other office staff below the management level will also see their annual salaries rise by 4 four per cent.
The company added that manufacturing technicians will also receive a 1.5 per cent salary hike next year, along with reduced working hours each week.
Simon Smith, Chief People Officer of Aston Martin, said: “Achieved through our positive working relationship with trade union colleagues, this new agreement recognises our commitment to putting people at the very heart of our organisation and making Aston Martin a great place to work.
“It builds on our continued support for colleagues with a high cost of living and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In addition to rewarding our skilled and dedicated employees, this agreement also promotes talent retention, providing labour certainty for the business as we enter an important period of production, with the ramp-up of new models that will support the company’s financial goals in 2024 and beyond.”
Aston Martin also said manufacturing technicians would receive a 1.5% rise in 2025 and a one-hour reduction in the working week.
The company, however, didn’t specify the exact date for the payment.
The Unite union said its members “voted in large majority” to accept the deal following lengthy negotiations between itself and Aston Martin Lagonda.
A spokesperson for Unite the Union added: “Following lengthy negotiations between Unite the Union and Aston Martin Lagonda, Unite members have voted in large majority to accept the two-year pay deal.
” Unite believes that this deal promotes the working relations built with AML, along with delivering a substantial pay rise and improvements on the work-life balance of our members, promoting wellbeing.”
It comes as thousands of households are in line to receive a free £125 payment in the next few weeks.
The cash support comes through the government’s Household Support Fund.
The scheme works by handing councils up and down the country a slice of funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
Each local authority gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.
The voucher or grant amounts vary by location, so you must check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
For example, thousands of residents in Reading are in line to receive £125 vouchers in the coming weeks.
