Plumbers are flushed with success over two-year deal

A pay settlement worth 4.6% on the hourly rate in each of its two years has been agreed for thousands of plumbers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Negotiated by the Unite general union with the Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industrial Board (SNIJIB) for the plumbing industry, the deal will come into effect in June this year. Besides the increase in pay, it will lower the overtime threshold by two hours – meaning that plumbers covered by the SNIJIB will be able to claim the overtime rate of time-and-a-half whenever they work more than 43 hours between Monday to Friday in a single week.

The agreement, which will also introduce a minimum allowance of 25p per mile for plumbers who have to use their own vehicle on their employer’s business, received 93% support in a ballot of the union’s members last month.

“This is a good above-inflation deal [which] goes to show how effective national pay bargaining can be,” said Unite national officer John Allott. “The employers took on board the aspirations of our members, which was shown in the ballot result.”

Pointing out that the settlement will be worth £40.88 a week for an advanced plumber working 37.5 hours a week, Arlott added: “Even those plumbers not included in the deal could benefit, as it sets a benchmark for the industry.”