In their largest construction strike ballot to date, Unite will ask 3,000 NAECI members if they want to take action over the dispute on next year’s wages
Members working under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI) will take part in Unite’s largest ever construction strike ballot as the dispute over engineer’s pay escalates.
NAECI members, who are involved in the construction of new build critical infrastructure, as well as repair and maintenance works at power stations, oil refineries, pharmaceutical and petrochemical plants, could down tools as soon as next month.
Inflation and the pandemic have led to the pay dispute
NAECI is run by the National Joint Council, which includes the Engineering Construction Industry Association (ECIA) and other bodies. The organisation negotiates conditions and pay for engineers paid by the hour across the UK.
During the pandemic, NAECI workers agreed to a pay freeze, whilst continuing to provide key services. In January 2022, a two-year pay deal of 2.5% was announced, with the same for 2023, and employers refused to renegotiate with the unions, even as inflation spiralled.
A non-consolidation supplement was eventually agreed earlier this year, but it expires in December.
The latest proposed pay rise of 6% per year was strongly rejected
92% of NAECI members rejected the two-year deal for 2024 and 2025, which had an average annual rise of 6% per year, believing it did not compensate them for the substandard pay of the past few years.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This offer is completely unacceptable when the industries involved are awash with profits. It does nothing to reverse the shrinking value of these workers’ wages over successive years or that higher pay elsewhere is causing workforce shortages.
“It also ties these workers into gambling on the economy and inflation in 2024 and 2025 when their finances have already been battered by increasingly unpredictable market forces. Unite stands rock solid with our NAECI members – the employers must come back with an acceptable offer.”
The construction strike ballot has the potential to cause ‘significant disruption’
Unite national officer Jason Poulter said: “The anger amongst our membership is such that we are balloting for strike action. The employers must acknowledge that without a better offer, falling recruitment and retention for NAECI roles will only get worse.
“Any disruption caused by potential strikes lies squarely at their door – a much improved offer needs to be put forward if this dispute is not to escalate into widespread industrial action.”
The ballots for strike action opens on 13 September and close in mid-October, with potential strike action scheduled to start later next month.
