Workers at Jaguar Land Rover have voted by an overwhelming 78.5 per cent in favour of a two-year pay deal which will ensure up to 9.8 per cent extra in wage packets.

The 21,000-strong workforce at Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands, Halewood on Merseyside and the research sites at Gaydon and Whitley were recommended by their shop stewards to accept the package earlier this month.

The members voted 78.5 per cent in favour of the deal, and 21.5 per cent against. There was an 85 per cent turnout.

Unite national officer for the automotive industry Roger Maddison said: “This is a very good result for JLR in particular and the car industry in general. We can now move forward to reinforce the renaissance in British car production.

“The deal is nothing less than the workforce deserve as they have contributed greatly to the nearly £3 billion profit made by JLR over the last three years.”

The deal will mean a pay rise of 4.5 per cent, plus £500, from November 1, 2012 which equates to 6.3 per cent in real terms for a shopfloor worker at Land Rover. The rise from November 2013 will be three per cent or that of the Retail Price Index (RPI).

From November, 2,400 agency workers with JLR will become permanent employees.

Other elements of the deal include new starter rates rising from 90 per cent to 95 per cent of the current pay rates, as well as an increased holiday bonus for the summer break.

An investment and sourcing agreement will guarantee the operation of all UK plants until at least 2022.

Des Thurlby, Jaguar Land Rover director of human resources said: “This deal recognises the contribution of our skilled and loyal workforce and provides a further extension of pay for performance for salaried staff.”