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Trade unions, Unite, Ucatt and GMB collectively rejected the pay rise offer put forward by employers for 2011/2012 has been rejected by Unite and other building unions.
The employers have offered 1.25% from January 2012 – six months later than the due date for the annual agreement. It is the union’s position that any deal should start from this month (June 2011).
Half a million construction workers, covered by the Construction Industry Joint Council agreement, have not had a pay rise since 2008.
Ucatt acting general secretary George Guy said: “Construction workers have borne the brunt of the downturn in the industry. It is simply unacceptable that employers are trying to postpone a pay rise until 2012. The employers now need to return with an improved and realistic offer.”
Unite national officer for construction, John Allott, said: “Unite, along with Ucatt and the GMB, has rejected this offer as it is inadequate given the soaring cost of living and the fact that our members have not had a pay rise for three years. We are seeking a further improvement in the offer.
“However, we welcome the employers’ commitment to this national agreement where building workers are employed directly in preference to self-employed and agency workers. This gives greater security of employment to our members.”
Earlier this week about 70 shop stewards and representatives demonstrated outside the employers’ headquarters in London in pursuit of their pay claim.
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