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The union says that strike action could hit some of the UK’s biggest construction projects, as disgruntled electricians, plumbers and heating & ventilating engineers down tools.
The new strike ballot opens on Thursday 19 January and closes on Wednesday 1 February. It follows Balfour Beatty’s move to impose contractual changes on around 1,600 workers in BBES. According to the union, the switch from Joint Industry Boards (JIBs) to Besna will lead to the majority of skilled workers getting a 30% pay cut. The Heating & Ventilating Contractors' Association (HVCA), which hosts Besna, denies this, saying that a new single national agreement is needed to replace the five separate deals drawn up 40 years ago and to better reflect modern working practices.
Unite national officer Bernard McAulay said: “Skilled craftsmen are angry that BBES is leading the attack on their jobs. Over the past six months we have seen huge unrest in construction sites all over the country because of this move. Unless BBES and its cohorts reconsider the way they are forcing through change there could be harmful strikes across the country.
“Good industrial relations involves negotiating change in a constructive way, instead BBES is imposing an employer’s charter on an unwilling workforce.”
The company has told Unite that if its staff refuse to sign up to the new inferior contracts they will sack them and replace them with agency labour.
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, along with six other leading construction companies, intends to withdraw from five long-standing agreements and impose new semi-skilled grades with massive cuts in pay.
Next week’s ballot follows a previous BBES strike ballot in late November 2011, where more than 80% of Unite members voted for strike action. However, BBES successfully challenged the procedure in court and forced the re-ballot.
“Unite members made it abundantly clear that they do not agree with their employer’s imposition when they voted for strike action by an overwhelming 80% in our last ballot.” added Mr McAulay.
“If BBES prefers to use anti-union laws and imposition, the company will continue to alienate the workforce rather than find a solution to the issues facing the industry.”
Six other HVCA member companies also plan to move from JIB to Besna: NG Bailey, T Clarke, Crown House Technologies, Gratte Brothers, Shepherd Engineering Services and SPIE Matthew Hall.
HVCA chief executive Blane Judd said: “The seven contractors and HVCA are disappointed that Unite has announced another strike ballot concerning the introduction of the new Building Engineering Services National Agreement.
“We maintain that Unite’s decision is not in the best interests of its members, the workforce or the construction industry as a whole. The strike ballot announcement also appears to conflict with guidance provided by Unite to its members about the Besna contracts on 4 January 2012.
“All of the employees who were asked to sign up to Besna have received their contracts. The feedback so far has been good and many workers have returned contracts to their employers.
“We are convinced that Besna represents the best way to secure jobs, develop skills and compete effectively against foreign firms. We hope that Unite will agree to our offer to resume discussions through Acas in order to resolve this entire matter.”
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