M&E Workers Consultative Ballot

Unite sends out Consultative Ballot to M&E Workers over Pay Offers

Unite the Union in the last few weeks have sent out consultative ballot papers to M&E Workers across the country asking members whether they will accept the employers new pay offers.

BESA(HVCA) offered 1.5% pay rise after 3 years of pay freeze with another beforehand.

Today Unite the Union announced that the 90% of Mechanical workers have rejected this offer.

Also today, Electricians across the country working for JIB companies started to receive their Consultative ballot papers over another derisory offer of 1.5% increase after 3 years of pay freeze. The employers are even offering that apprentices should be on a lower hourly rate whilst at college learning.

Plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers reject pay offer by nine to one

20 September 2012

Unite is demanding that the Building and Engineering Services Association (BESA) improve its below inflation pay offer for thousands of skilled workers and get back to the negotiating table, after union members overwhelmingly rejected the deal in a consultative ballot.

Skilled plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers voted nine to one against accepting a two-year pay offer which includes freezing pay for the first year, followed by 1.5 per cent increase for the second year.
The country's low carbon energy sector could be affected if industrial action follows a break-down in talks as thousands of skilled workers down tools.

Bernard McAulay, Unite national officer for construction, said: “This insulting pay offer has been roundly rejected by our members. The employers are hiding behind the economic climate to try and push through this paltry pay offer.

"We know that the major contractors that make up the Building and Engineering Association have healthy profit margins and order books. Last year they attempted to de-skill the industry causing the biggest industrial unrest on sites across the country for a decade.

“After six months the employers had to back-track because of the opposition they felt by thousands of angry skilled workers.

"This pay deal has been received with equal anger and Unite members have made it clear that they want an improved offer."

If the BESA refuses to improve its offer, Unite will consider moving towards an industrial action ballot. Potential industrial action by skilled workers in the multi-billion pound energy sector could jeopardise the government's ability to meet its low carbon energy targets.