Engineering construction workers based at Exxon Mobil’s Mossmorran plant, Altrad engineering's Torness power plant, GSK's Montrose site and Wilton International's Redcar plant have voted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said.
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The workers, who operate under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), have rejected a two year pay offer of 10 per cent for 2024 and five per cent for 2025.
The offer, from the employers who negotiate the NAECI agreement with unions, does not go far enough to restore years of falling wages for engineering construction workers.
Since the pandemic, pay for engineering construction workers has fallen in real terms. During Covid, a pay freeze was imposed on the workers even though they provided essential services throughout the crisis.
In January 2022, they received a two year pay deal of 2.5 per cent for 2022 and the same percentage increase for 2023 – even though inflation was soaring into double digits.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “NAECI workers have seen their pay fall further and further behind in real terms as a result of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
"Meanwhile, most NAECI employers have benefited from huge profits generated from rocketing energy and fuel prices. NAECI contractors and clients, including Altrad, GSK, Wilton and Exxon Mobile, can fully afford to put forward a better offer. This is what must happen.â€
The workers carry out essential repair and maintenance at the site and strike action would cause significant disruption.
Strike action will be conducted in conjunction with other NAECI workers operating at oil refineries, power stations and pharmaceutical and petro-chemical plants across the nation.
Workers at Drax, Sellafield, Stanlow, Pembroke, Grangemouth, Teesside Sabic TIP and Runcorn Project Summer Vynova have also voted for strike action.
Due to the strength of feeling amongst NAECI members, Unite is balloting even more workers at other sites across the country to join any industrial action.
Unite national officer Jason Poulter said: “There is a limited window of opportunity for NAECI contractors and clients to avoid widespread industrial unrest. They have the money to ensure that our members rates are restored to their previous value.
"Their latest offer was inadequate and was overwhelmingly rejected by our members. They need to get back into negotiations and work with us to find an acceptable offer.†■