Construction: Strike threat secures 12.7% pay boost for mechanical workers

Posted on November 21, 2023 by unitetheunion

Deal improves on Labour Court recommendation rejected by Unite members

November 21st: Unite, which represents construction workers throughout the country, announced today (Tuesday) that it has secured a 12.7 per cent pay boost for plumbers, pipefitters and welders from January 2023 until 2026.

The proposed deal improves on a Labour Court recommendation which was rejected by Unite members who subsequently voted by nearly 85 per cent to take strike action.

The agreement between Unite and MEBSCA (Mechanical Engineering & Building Services Contractors’ Association) will see members receive an immediate 3.5 per cent pay increase backdated to September 2023, followed by a 1.9 per cent increase in August 2024, 1.5 per cent in December 2024 and a further 3 per cent in August 2025.  This is in addition to the 2.8 per cent increase which took effect in January 2023.

The agreement provides for a new deal to be negotiated in early 2026.

Unite’s construction committee is recommending acceptance of the deal, which is now being put to members in a ballot.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 

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Secretary of state’s threat to cut free and concessionary travel creates double whammy for bus and rail users

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Investment in improving public transport services in Northern Ireland is needed not cuts

Bus and rail services are vital for greater inclusion and for a just transition to a more sustainable economy

Unite the union has warned that plans by the secretary of state Chris Heaton Harris to cut free and half-fare travel on buses and trains will have a devastating effect on the most vulnerable in society and will damage the economy.

Earlier this year the department for infrastructure consulted on proposals which could see drastic restrictions to eligibility for free bus and rail fares – currently available in Northern Ireland to those with disabilities or aged 60 and above. 

Members of Unite which represents more than half the entire workforce of Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport provider, is warning of the looming potential of strike action in an industrial dispute over a proposed pay freeze but threats to restrict or remove concessionary travel pose an additional concern for both jobs and public transport services. 

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “The last time austerity cuts threatened bus and rail services as well as our members’ jobs, strike action by Unite brought public transport to a standstill. Mr Heaton-Harris should be under no illusions that our members will do the same again if he insists on pressing ahead with attacks to public transport in Northern Ireland.”

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Unite determined to defend living standards as public sector unions prepare for pay talks

Posted on November 19, 2023 by unitetheunion

Union will not shy away from collective action in pursuit of cost-of-living pay increases

November 19th: Unite, which represents members in a range of public sector employments, today (Sunday) said that public sector workers have demonstrated over the past year that they will not shy away from collective action in a bid to defend and improve their living standards.

Officers of the ICTU Public Services Committee, of which Unite is a member, are preparing to meet the government in the coming days for talks on a successor to the ‘Building Momentum’ public sector pay deal.

Unions are seeking assurances that the infamous ‘Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest’(FEMPI) legislation introduced in 2009 will be scrapped ahead of talks where the union side will be focusing on pay increases to meet ongoing cost-of-living pressures, an agreed process to deal with sectoral issues and measures to ‘future-proof’ quality public services and public sector jobs.

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Unite warns secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris that workers will resist of punitive measures

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Second wave of consultations on harsh ‘revenue raising’ programme are published by departments at the demand of the secretary of state

Unite the union has told the secretary of state for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris that workers will not accept the punitive ‘revenue-raising’ measures he is pushing. The new measures include overturning agreed Stormont policy to end car parking charges at hospitals, introducing water rates on domestic homeowners, removing the cap on university tuition fees and introducing both care charges and prescription charges.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham “Heaton-Harris is seeking to impose what amount to a tidal wave of attacks on workers and the wider community.

“Attempts to ratchet up the suffering of workers and the vulnerable are despicable and will be met with broad resistance from unions and local communities.”

Irish regional secretary Susan Fitzgerald said: “Heaton-Harris has no democratic mandate to impose such punitive proposals. His proposals will only redouble pressures on households who are already barely surviving what is a brutal cost of living crisis and who live in the lowest paid part of these islands.

“Heaton-Harris needs to comprehend that workers are standing up for themselves and striking back. There is now escalating strike action as workers are resolved to win improved pay and proper funding of public services.”

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Education Authority support staff to commence 48-hour strike action tomorrow over failure to deliver pay & grading review

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Union warns of significant disruption to school transport and to some schools on first day of strike ahead of wider industrial action

Communication from Department of Education confirms that business case for negotiated commitment has still not been submitted 

Almost 800 members of Unite the union working as school support staff will commence a 48-hour strike commencing at 00.01am tomorrow [15 November 2023]. Other school support staff unions – Unison, GMB and NIPSA – will join the strike on the second day in what will be one of the biggest strikes among non-teaching unions in years.

The latest action by Unite members follows a ballot which returned a 94 per cent majority for industrial action; a work-to-rule in the dispute commenced on October 23. The strike is likely to cause significant disruption to many schools given the concentration of Unite membership in school bus transport, catering, admin, cleaning, classroom assistants and other roles.

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