Construction employers have snubbed a Christmas deal in the row over the de-skilling of the industry's workforce, according to Unite the union.

As a result, Unite will re-ballot its members at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) in the New Year.

Unite said that the seven construction companies walked away from the prospect of an Acas-brokered deal, as the employers refused to withdraw their threat to sack workers, if they didn't sign up to arbitrarily-imposed inferior pay and conditions.

Unite said that the 'sacking' threat needed to be withdrawn, so that talks could take place in a constructive atmosphere.

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During recent talks at the conciliation service, Acas, Unite proposed that employers withdraw the threat to sack 6,000 workers who work as electricians, plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers.

Unite is now left with no choice, other than to press ahead on with the re-ballot of its members at BBES.

Unite regards BBES as the ring-leaders of the rogue employers who are intent on ripping up long-established 40-year old agreements.

Unite national officer, Bernard McAulay said: "Unite is hugely disappointed that the employers have not acted on our proposals to find a peaceful solution to the current dispute in the construction industry.

"Union members protesting outside the sites of the seven 'rogue' companies across the country have made it abundantly clear that they do not support their employers’ proposals to de-skill their industry and slash pay.

"However, these managements are continuing on their path of bullying their workers.

"Unite members at BBES originally voted overwhelmingly for strike action, but this was thwarted by legal technicalities. Unite will now re-ballot BBES in the New Year."