黑洞社区

Balfour Beatty will face another strike ballot next week, amid the on-going bitter dispute between electricians and their employers.

Unite members at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services voted 81% in favour of strike action last November, but the union was forced to back down from strike action after the contractor highlighted alleged deficiencies in the vote.

Unite鈥檚 national officer for construction Bernard McAuley said he was 鈥渃onfident鈥� BBES workers would back strike action in the new vote, which will open on 19 January and close on 1 February.

BBES is one of seven electrical contractors proposing to ditch a 40-year-old wage agreement between employers and workers in favour of new pay and conditions proposals, known as the 黑洞社区 Engineering Services National Agreement (BESNA).

The move sparked four consecutive months of protests last year, including a sit-in of a contractor鈥檚 headquarters and violent clashes with police.

Around 6,000 workers are currently being asked to sign up to the BESNA proposals before the first week of April, when the proposals come into force.

Balfour Beatty said in a statement today that so far 850 out of 1,250 workers being asked to sign up to BESNA had done so.

The other contractors involved are NG Bailey, T Clarke, Crown House, Gratte Brothers, Shepherd Engineering Services and SPIE Matthew Hall.

A spokesperson for BBES said: 鈥淏BES is disappointed Unite has announced another strike ballot at this time.

鈥淲e have had 850 employees sign and return their contracts to date, a figure which is increasing daily. With 83.5% of our 黑洞社区 Services business now signed up it is clear that our employees understand the importance of the BESNA to our business, securing jobs and modernising our industry.

鈥淲e are looking at the detail of the ballot notification we have just received but early indications are this is again flawed.

鈥淏BES would urge Unite to reconsider its position with regard to the strike ballot announced today and re engage in useful dialogue regarding the implementation of the BESNA through ACAS. We would also encourage Unite to listen to the clear message being sent by the majority of BBES employees who have already signed and returned their BESNA contracts.鈥�

Unite鈥檚 Bernard McAuley said: 鈥淪killed craftsmen are angry that BBES are leading the attack on their jobs.

鈥淥ver the past six months we have seen huge unrest in construction sites all over the country because of this move.

鈥淯nless BBES and their cohorts re-consider the way they are forcing through change there will be harmful strikes across the country.

鈥淕ood industrial relations involves negotiating change in a constructive way, instead BBES are imposing an employer鈥檚 charter on an unwilling workforce.鈥�

Blane Judd, chief executive of the HVCA, who is representing the seven contractors, said: 鈥淭he seven contractors and HVCA are disappointed that Unite has announced another strike ballot concerning the introduction of the new 黑洞社区 Engineering Services National Agreement.

鈥淲e maintain that Unite鈥檚 decision is not in the best interests of its members, the workforce or the construction industry as a whole.

鈥淲e are convinced that BESNA represents the best way to secure jobs, develop skills and compete effectively against foreign firms.

鈥淲e hope that Unite will agree to our offer to resume discussions through Acas in order to resolve this entire matter.鈥�