Unite the union will oppose all attempts by a breakaway group of major mechanical and electrical firms to withdraw from agreements covering thousands of workers at some of the country’s key infrastructure projects and has launched a campaign to defend their members terms and conditions.

Unite has been approached by eight major employers, including Balfour Beatty and Crown House who intend to withdraw from five long standing national agreements and impose on their employees, a new single agreement that represents a significant attack on worker’s terms and conditions. The biggest threat to workers within the new proposals is the introduction of semi-skilled operative grade on much lower pay than existing skilled trades.

Unite fears that this provocative move on behalf of these companies will lead to instability and fragmentation within the sector and a deterioration of industrial relations in major projects such as the redevelopment of Heathrow and Gatwick airports and the massive programme of work at Thameslink and Crossrail and the new nuclear builds which will be key to the country's future economic growth.

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Bernard McAuley, Unite National Officer, said: "We recognise that conditions in the sector have got tougher and Unite is prepared to negotiate ways of working that address the industry's needs through our existing agreements and industry boards.

"However, the way these major employers have approached negotiations is highly provocative and our members have reacted with anger. These employers are trying to use the current economic climate to push through their long-held ambition of introducing semi-skilled operatives on much lower rates of pay.

"These companies are still highly profitable and in fact the majority have seen large increases in their profits over recent years. Unite will not stand-by and allow this cynical attack on worker’s terms and conditions to happen."

Unite has formed by a few major industry clients that they do not support this breakaway move as they are concerned that industrial relations unrest caused by these proposals could jeopardise the ability of companies to deliver projects on time and within budget and that harmonious industrial relations will be a serious consideration for these clients when awarding future contracts. Other employer organisations who also oppose the breakaway move, include ECA and SELECT, and plumbing APHC and SNIPEF.

(CD/GK)