Ainscough crane operators vote to strike

The company’s 500 operators rejected the company’s revised two-year pay offer of 2.5% and 2.75%. They voted 90% for strike action, on an 83% turnout. More than 90% also voted for action short of a strike.

A series of escalating strikes are planned across the company’s 30 depots, between 1st February and 23rd March. A programme of overtime bans will run from 30th January to 20th March.

The operators are members of the Unit union. Unite national officer for construction Bernard McAulay said: “The strength of this strike ballot result should serve as a wake-up call to management. Our members are highly skilled crane operatives working on some of the UK’s premier construction sites in challenging conditions. They deserve better from their multi-million profit making employer.

“Our members’ hard work, skills and dedication have helped make Ainscough the highly profitable and respected business it is today. They are justifiably angry that the company can boast of making a £14m profit last year and yet offer a derisory pay increase in return.

“Ainscough needs to heed this warning and come back to the negotiating table with an improved pay offer or risk major disruption to its UK-wide operations. Our members are seeking a pay deal that recognises the dynamic and specialist skills they have.”

The operators will be on strike for 18 days during February and March: February 1^st, 8^th, 15^th, 16^th, 22^nd, 23^rd, 29^th and March 1^st, 2^nd, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd.

In addition, overtime bans will be held on January 30^th and 31^st, February 6^th, 7^th, 13^th, 14^th, 20^th, 21^st, 27^th, 28^th, March 5^th, 6^th, 12^th, 13^th, 19^th and 20^th.

A spokesman for Ainscough Crane Hire said that Unite had misrepresented what was on the table. He said: “To provide clarity the actual pay offer is:

1st June 2015 to 31st May 2016

• 2.5% increase on base rate
• a new 1.5% depot performance bonus
• 2.5% increase on the radius allowance
• an improvement to the mileage allowance

1st June 2016 to 31st May 2017

• a further 2.75% increase on base rate
• an increase to 2.0% depot performance bonus
• an increase to 2.75% on the radius allowance.”

He added that there were also changes to the holiday pay formula being offered that represented average increases of 2.1% in the first year and 2.3% in the second year.

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