UK's BAE loses bid to block strike by workers at Typhoon jet sites

LONDON (Reuters) -British defence group BAE Systems on Thursday lost a bid to block staff from striking at two of its sites where Eurofighter Typhoon jets are partly produced and assembled.

Members of Britain's Unite union at BAE's Warton and Samlesbury plants in Lancashire, northern England, last month voted to strike after rejecting a 3.6% pay offer.

Unite said that the strike action by BAE staff in sections including manufacturing and quality control began on Wednesday and is due to continue until November 25.

BAE applied to London's High Court for an injunction on the grounds that Unite allegedly called on members not to undertake training before the ballot, meaning the ballot was unlawful.

Judge Michael Soole refused to grant an injunction preventing strike action, saying he would give his reasons at a later date.

BAE, which can seek permission to appeal the ruling, said it respects the right of employees to engage in industrial action and remains committed to a partnership with trade union groups.

"We believe we had good grounds for the legal challenge and will consider the court's judgment," a BAE spokesperson said.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement that BAE "now needs to come back to the negotiating table with an acceptable offer for striking workers in its air division, rather than wasting money on pointless legal threats."

Thursday's ruling comes after Turkey last week agreed to buy 20 new Typhoons from Britain for 8 billion pounds ($10.7 billion) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited BAE's Warton site.

($1 = 0.7451 pounds)

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Additional reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Conor Humphries)