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Unite members overwhelming yes vote to Balfour Beatty strike over de-skilling

29 November 2011

Unite members at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services have given an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote for strike action, as Unite begins immediate preparation to ballot two other construction companies that are involved in the termination of long-held agreements and the de-skilling of craft workers.

Electricians, plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers voted by 81 per cent in favour of strike action at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services which has acted as the ringleader of the gang of seven breakaway employers, that want to withdraw from five long-standing agreements and impose new semi-skilled grades which will lead to huge pay cuts.

Unite has written to the seven companies, that recently pulled out of a meeting with Unite to discuss the dispute, to get back to talks and has suggested the involvement of the conciliation service Acas.

Unite has asked Balfour Beatty to withdraw the threat of dismissal for workers who refuse to sign new inferior contracts by 7 January 2012. 

The union has learned that it was the intention of the company to maintain a core workforce of skilled trades and bring in semi-skilled agency labour to make up the teams. These teams would consist of one craftsman, working with eight semi-skilled installer grades.

Unite national officer, Bernard McAulay, said: “This is a resounding result and shows our members have not been conned and therefore Balfour Beatty Engineering Services needs to recognise it does not have the support of its employees.

“Unite therefore calls on Balfour Beatty to immediately engage in discussion with the union to find a sensible solution to this dispute.

“The company should start by withdrawing its threat of dismissal to those who refuse to sign new and inferior contracts.”

Unite will be announcing dates for strike action in due course.

ENDS

For further information please contact Unite communications officer Liane Groves on 07793 661657 or Unite national officer Bernard McAulay on 07958 514837.

Ballot result - 360 voted ‘yes’ (81.6 per cent) and 81 voted ‘no’ (18.4 per cent) and there were zero spoilt ballot papers.

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.