Thousands of electricians and labourers have rejected a 5%, two-year pay deal.

The members of Unite the union will decide the next steps to be taken at a meeting on 4 August.

Unite members are also angry that employers want to introduce a 'new entrant' grade with an 18-month probationary period with a pay rate 25% less than the labourers' grade. The union regards this as "the slippery slope to a deskilled workforce".

Unite balloted more than 7,000 electricians and labourers and by a large margin of 91% they rejected the pay package of 2% from January 2015 and 3% from January 2016. The average pay of an electrician, working on the latest cutting-edge technology, is £29,000 a year.

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Unite national officer for the construction industry Bernard McAulay called for the Electrical Contractors' Association and its Scottish counterpart SELECT to return to the negotiating table to engage in "genuine and meaningful" pay negotiations for 2015 and 2016.

Mr McAulay said: "The pay offer is woefully inadequate as the cost of living continues to soar. Pay packets are being eroded in real terms, while companies still chalk up handsome profits.

"The cynical approach by both employer associations is yet another direct attack on our electrical members' terms and conditions in a bid to drive down wages of highly skilled workers."

(CD/JP)