Electricians refuse wage deal

A three-year pay deal was agreed between the ECA and Unite’s union leaders in April, but was deemed too low by union stewards.

The Joint Industry Board (JIB) had proposed a 14.8% pay rise over three years: 4.67% this year, 4.5% next year and 5% the year after.

Chief executive of the JIB Ron Allender said: “If you look at the percentages, they appear to be quite reasonable and in line with other wage settlements.”

He suggested employees’ reluctance to commit to a three-year wage deal as a major contributing factor, but insisted the workers were still “a hell of a long way from a strike.”

Alex Meikle, head of employee relations at the ECA, noted the low turn-out for the ballot, and claimed people who were not part of the JIB agreement may have wrongly received papers.

Unite is said to be taking legal advice on trying to identify genuine members of the union for balloting.

At the time EMC went to press, Tom Hardacre, the head of construction in the Amicus section of Unite, assured EMC that the negotiations were set to continue. However, he would make no further comment.

The HVCA’s last three year wage agreement was for 3.5% in 2006/07, 3.5% in 2007/08 and 4% in 2008/09. A recent two year deal for plumbers is worth 4.5% in 2008, followed by 4.5% or the retail price index figure, if greater, in 2009.