Electricians supported by their trade union, Unite, gathered
outside the BBC in Glasgow on 17th December to highlight their
campaign to halt the downgrading of
their pay by up to 35 percent and stop
the introduction of a new grade of semi-skilled worker on construction sites. The campaign targets seven building
contractors who want to impose the Building Engineering Services National
Agreement (Besna) leading to de-skilling of electrical work and massive cuts in
wages and terms and conditions.
Electricians gather outside the BBC.
I joined the rally in support
of electricians and she called for building contractors to adhere to the
existing Joint Industry Board (JIB) national agreement. It is unacceptable
to try to force electricians to sign up to a 35 percent cut in their wages. The
current electrician’s JIB rate of £16.25 per hour should be preserved, along
with working hours split into 7.5 hour days, across Monday to Friday.
I am aware that Balfour Beattie, one of
the construction companies seeking to impose the new agreement, has made
massive pre - tax profits last year totaling £50.5 million. The current approach
being taken by senior management within the construction industry seems to be
only concerned with increasing these profit margins. As a result of management actions,
electricians and their families are faced with financial hardship and it is not
surprising that they organise protests and walkouts at construction sites
across the country. The construction companies must withdraw the threat of
imposing Besna terms to avoid further disruption within the industry.
