Workplace Report February 2006

Bargaining news

Strike's terminal effect

Workers building Heathrow’s Terminal 5 have settled a dispute over bonus pay, following strike action in January.

Earlier this month, members of the GMB and T&G general unions and construction union UCATT accepted an offer from contractor Laing O’Rourke to increase bonus pay by 80p per hour – close to the £1 increase that they had sought – and to award back pay of £800 to each worker.

The deal also includes a “no intimidation or retaliation” clause to protect those workers who took part in the strike, which followed the rejection of an earlier offer worth 67p an hour.

“We hope we can now get on with Laing O’Rourke to finish the terminal,” said GMB construction organiser Tom Kelly.