Ballot for “fairness”

Unions in the engineering construction industry were planning an official strike ballot of members at a series of power stations and oil refineries later this month, after months of unrest and unofficial action.

The Unite and GMB unions want improvements in the national NAECI agreement, which would deliver “fairness and long-term stability“, including an improved auditing process to monitor “Blue Book” rates and other benefits.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, spoke of anger and frustration in the industry at the misuse and exploitation of migrant labour, but added: “This is not a skills issue, this is not a foreign worker issue, it is about fairness and adhering to agreed standards.” Employers had an opportunity to avert a dispute at the 4 August meeting of the NJC negotiating body, the GMB added.