Unite calls on Balfour Beatty Engineering Services to negotiate
during legal pause of ballot injunction
8 February 2012
The judgement in BBES' case to injunct Unite's ballot will be
reserved until early next week (beginning 13 February). Unite is
urging BBES to use the next few days to return to the table and
find a negotiated solution.
Commenting, Unite national officer, Bernard McAulay, said:
“Balfour Beatty’s failure to recognise the strength of feeling
among skilled workers is prolonging a long and bitter dispute. We
will not bow down to bully boy tactics either in the workplace or
the court room.
"This dispute will not be solved by Balfour Beatty’s continued
attempts to undermine legitimate strike votes. The only way forward
is by Balfour Beatty to actively engage in meaningful negotiations
and recognise the importance of the existing collective agreements,
which have served the industry well for decades.”
BBES is attempting to injunct an industrial action ballot of
electricians, plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers
despite an overwhelming vote of 67 per cent in favour of strike
action.
The union warned that BBES has lost the confidence and respect
of its long established workforce and is unnecessarily prolonging a
long and bitter dispute.
BBES is the ringleader of gang of seven breakaway employers (see
notes to editors) who want to tear up the long-standing Joint
Industry Boards agreements and impose new semi-skilled grades.
Tearing up the industry wide agreements will lead to pay cuts of up
to 30 per cent and poorer terms and conditions for key construction
staff.
ENDS
For further information contact Unite communications officer
Liane Groves on 07793 661657, Unite national officer Bernard
McAulay on 07958 514837 or Unite head of media and campaigns Alex
Flynn on 020 3371 2066 or 07967 665 869.
Notes to editors:
The seven major breakaway contractors 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.
