The employers’ side has offered a 3% pay increase from June 2014 with a further 3% increase from June 2015. There will also be an increase in a number of allowances. The union representatives agreed to the deal.
Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy said: “This is the best offer which could be achieved through long and arduous negotiations. This is an improvement on previous offers from the employer’s side. However, even with the increase in pay these rates do not reflect the hard work, skills and dedication of construction workers.”
John Allott, Unite’s national office for construction, said: “The employers’ latest offer is an improvement from where they started. We have held a series of tough negotiations over a number of months and this is the best we could achieve across the negotiating table. “
GMB national officer for construction Phil Whitehurst added: “Construction workers have suffered badly over the past six years due to the recession. GMB was hoping for the employers to recognise this and that they would make a more substantial offer particularly as the pay rates in this agreement lag far behind best practice in the industry. After protracted negotiations this is the best deal we can get and all three unions are recommending acceptance to their members. When we have the offer in written form from the employers GMB will consult members.”
The CIJC is the largest industrial agreement in the construction industry. Around 500,000 workers are covered by some aspect of the CIJC agreement.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
