More than 500 crane operators employed by Ainscough Crane Hire have rejected a two year pay deal of 1.5% and 1.75%. Among the issues at dispute is compensation for the amount of overtime that crane operating crews are routinely expected to put in.
Unite said that crane operators working on major construction sites and projects across the UK such as the M1 and M6 motorway upgrades and new Forth Road Bridge could soon be balloting for industrial action should talks fail.
Unite national officer Bernard McAulay said: “Our members are highly-skilled crane operators making safety critical decisions on a minute-by-minute basis. They have played a critical role in making Ainscough the success it is today and in keeping Britain building.
“The last thing our members want to be doing is balloting for industrial action, but they feel pushed to breaking point by a pitiful pay offer which fails to address excessive overtime.
“We would urge management to use the opportunity of these talks to hammer out a deal that recognises their valuable contribution and avoids the prospect of a damaging pay dispute.”
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