Employers and union agree three-year wage deal for electricians

Amicus members have voted in favour of a three-year wages and conditions package that will increase the national approved electricians’ rate by 14% over the next three years. Pay will increase by 3·7% in January 2005, 4·5% in 2006 and 5% in 2007.

The offer was overwhelmingly accepted by Amicus following a postal ballot of 13 750 JIB electricians. A “disappointing” return of 3414 papers (25%) showed 2122 in favour, 1272 against with 20 papers spoiled or blank. Among 2475 SJIB electricians in Scotland, the figures showed a return of 606 papers (24%); 440 were in favour, 162 against with four papers invalid. The deal will see the pay of national approved electricians with their own transport rise from the current £11.05 per hour to £12.58 per hour in 2007.

“This is a fair and reasonable deal,” said Alex Meikle, head of employee relations at the ECA. “It has been struck following extensive consultation with the membership across the regions through the labour relations committee. By far the majority of members are happy about it, particularly the three-year aspect.”

The deal also sees the introduction of an excess charge on BUPA medical insurance claims for the first time. The excess sum of £150 per claim has been introduced because of the rising costs of such insurance. Accidental death benefit is to be increased to £50 000 for an on site incident. This will give a total benefit of £67 000 (£50 000 plus £17 000 for death from any cause).

On jobs over 200 miles away, an agreement has been reached on the payment of return rail fares every two weeks for lodging workers. On jobs over 100 miles up to 200 miles, fares will be paid every four weeks. Travel allowances and travel times costs will increase at the same rate as the national rates of pay.

There is no increase in the lodging allowance in the current negotiations as the Inland Revenue is against such payments. Amicus and the employers are to meet with the Inland Revenue to discuss this issue. The parties are also to set up a working group to look at sick pay, particularly in terms of the long-term sick.

Paul Corby, Amicus national officer, described the package as “a fair and reasonable” deal. “Our members are highly skilled people; this is a key industry that has never been as buoyant. We’ve worked hard to get the best deal we could, which has been overwhelmingly accepted by our members.”

Rates of pay in London will be fixed at 12% on top of the national standard rate from January 2005. The effect of this will be to provide an additional increase to all grades in the first year; for example, the approved electrician London rate will rise by 5·4% in January 2005. From then on, the percentage increases will be the same as the national rates. An approved electrician in London with their own transport will see their pay rise from the current £12.18 per hour to £14.09 per hour in 2007, an increase of 16%.

The deal is set to be rubber stamped at a meeting of the JIB executive in early September.