Construction unions have accused employers of treating workers with contempt after the employers proposed to freeze pay for workers.

The charge follows the initial meeting of the 2012 Construction Industry Joint Council pay talks on Wednesday 23rd May when the employers declined to make a pay offer.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "The unions and construction workers have been treated with complete contempt as the employers’ side have offered absolutely nothing on any of the proposals the joint unions put forward in their pay claim."

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Mr Murphy added: "We have given the employers a window of opportunity to reconsider their position and there is still time for them to come to their senses and return with a realistic offer."

John Allott, Unite’, National Officer for Construction, said: "The simple fact of the matter is that the employers don't get it, construction workers simply can’t make ends meet. The employers are seeking to maintain their profits at the expense of hard working construction workers."

Phil Davies, GMB’s National Secretary for Construction, said: "Our members have suffered low pay for too long and now enough is enough."

It has been agreed that pay negotiations will reconvene on Monday 11th June 2012.

The CIJC is the largest construction industry agreement covering the pay and terms of conditions of up to 500,000 workers.

(CD)