Thousands of engineering construction workers are ready to strike
after they rejected an ‘inadequate’ pay offer,
with more set to be balloted, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said
today (Monday).
The workers, who operate under the National Agreement for the
Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), last week voted by 86
per cent to reject a two-year pay offer of 10 per cent for 2024
and five per cent for 2025.
The offer, from the employers who negotiate the NAECI agreement
with unions, does not go far enough to restore years of falling
wages for engineering construction workers.
Since the pandemic, pay for engineering construction workers has
fallen by 20 per cent in real terms. During Covid, a pay freeze
was imposed on the workers even though they provided essential
services throughout the crisis. In January 2022, they received a
two-year pay deal of 2.5 per cent for 2022 and the same
percentage increase for 2023 – even though inflation was soaring
into double digits.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “NAECI
workers have seen their pay fall further and further behind in
real terms as a result of the pandemic and the cost of living
crisis. Meanwhile, most NAECI employers have benefited from huge
profits generated from rocketing energy and fuel prices. NAECI
contractors and clients can fully afford to put forward a better
offer and this is what must happen.”
Unite’s NAECI members carry out essential repair and maintenance
at oil refineries, power stations and pharmaceutical and
petrochemical plants.
Workers at Drax, Sellafield, Stanlow, Pembroke, Grangemouth,
Teesside Sabic TIP and Runcorn Project Summer Vynova have already
voted for strike action.
Due to the strength of feeling amongst NAECI members, Unite is
also preparing to ballot even more workers at other sites across
the country to join any industrial action.
Unite national officer Jason Poulter said: “There is a
limited window of opportunity for NAECI contractors and clients
to avoid widespread industrial unrest.
“They have the money to ensure that our members' rates are
restored to their previous value. Their latest offer was
inadequate and was overwhelmingly rejected by our members. They
need to get back into negotiations and work with us to find an
acceptable offer.”
ENDS
UK oil refineries, power
stations, chemical and pharma sites facing major strike
disruption
