Scottish construction workers continue protest, as Unite prepares
to send out ballot papers
12 January 2012
Construction workers in Scotland will continue their protest
tomorrow (Friday 13 January) and Monday (16 January) over the
de-skilling and pay cuts being imposed by a group of rogue
construction firms.
Up to 100 construction workers, working for Balfour Beatty
Engineering Services (BBES), will be staging their protest outside
Grangemouth oil refinery at 6.30am as BBES is a major contractor on
site.
Workers from NG Bailey will stage their demonstration at 6.30am
on Monday (16 January). This action will take place outside
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as NG Bailey is a major contractor working
on projects at the hospital.
Unite, Scotland's largest union, is currently preparing to send
out ballot papers to its members in BBES for industrial action.
This ballot follows Balfour Beatty's failure to step back from
imposing contractual changes which will see thousands of workers'
wages cut by a third.
BBES is being balloted first as Unite believes the firm is
acting as the ‘ring-leader’ of the break-away employers, with five
firms out of the seven threatening to sack workers who refuse to
sign the new and inferior contracts. Two further companies will
also soon be balloted in the next phase of Unite's fight to defend
its members.
Unite regional officer Rab Sherry said: “What these firms are
proposing is a serious attack on the livelihoods of construction
workers who cannot afford to lose a third of their income.
“If these companies get away with de-skilling the industry and
slashing the pay of the workers, our members won't be able to pay
their mortgages or earn a living wage to support their
families.
ENDS
For further information contact Rab Sherry on 07904 057405 or
Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 07980 224761 or 020
3371 2061.
Notes to news editors:
In May 2011, BBES, along with six other leading construction
companies, informed Unite of its intention to withdraw from five
long-standing agreements and impose new semi-skilled grades
resulting in massive cuts in pay. The attack will hit electricians,
plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers working at sites
around Scotland, including the Vellodrome in Glasgow and
Grangemouth power station.
The seven major break-away contractors currently involved are:
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Limited; NG Bailey Building
Services; Crown House Technologies; Gratte Brothers; Spie Matthew
Hall; Shepherd Engineering Services (SES); and T. Clarke Plc.
