Menu
19/09/2011
Workers Stage Protest Over Plans To Cut Pay By 30%
Construction workers, who face up to 30 per cent pay cuts because rogue employers are tearing up long held national agreements, will be demonstrating outside the Newcastle University building site on Wednesday, 21 September.
About 100 workers, members of the country's largest trade union, Unite, will be staging their protest at Newcastle University building site, Percy Street, Newcastle between 6.30am and 8am.
The focus of their anger are plans by Balfour Beatty and another seven breakaway construction companies, which are imposing semi-skilled grades into the mechanical and electrical sector.
Unite regional officer, Bill Green said: "Our members in the Newcastle are furious about this attack by these so-called reputable companies aimed at reducing our members’ income by up to a third.
"The companies are trying to bulldoze their plans through by ripping long-standing national agreements without any negotiation.
"These rogue employers should pull back from the brink as their brutal onslaught on workers' skills, pay, and terms and conditions is causing widespread anger among workers."
Workers in five of the eight breakaway companies have been written to by their managers with a stark choice - sign new contracts on much inferior pay, and terms and conditions or face the sack on 7 December.
The employers want to withdraw from five long-held agreements and replace them with a new agreement which will allow employers to introduce semi-skilled grades and dictate rather than negotiate on pay, holiday entitlement, overtime, and what constitutes away work.
But five of the eight have upped the stakes. Balfour Beatty, Crown House Technologies, Spie Matthew Hall, Shepherd Engineering Services and NG Bailey have issued Unite with legal notice of their intention to dismiss, with notice, thousands of employees before re-engaging them on new inferior contracts.
(CD/GK)
About 100 workers, members of the country's largest trade union, Unite, will be staging their protest at Newcastle University building site, Percy Street, Newcastle between 6.30am and 8am.
The focus of their anger are plans by Balfour Beatty and another seven breakaway construction companies, which are imposing semi-skilled grades into the mechanical and electrical sector.
Unite regional officer, Bill Green said: "Our members in the Newcastle are furious about this attack by these so-called reputable companies aimed at reducing our members’ income by up to a third.
"The companies are trying to bulldoze their plans through by ripping long-standing national agreements without any negotiation.
"These rogue employers should pull back from the brink as their brutal onslaught on workers' skills, pay, and terms and conditions is causing widespread anger among workers."
Workers in five of the eight breakaway companies have been written to by their managers with a stark choice - sign new contracts on much inferior pay, and terms and conditions or face the sack on 7 December.
The employers want to withdraw from five long-held agreements and replace them with a new agreement which will allow employers to introduce semi-skilled grades and dictate rather than negotiate on pay, holiday entitlement, overtime, and what constitutes away work.
But five of the eight have upped the stakes. Balfour Beatty, Crown House Technologies, Spie Matthew Hall, Shepherd Engineering Services and NG Bailey have issued Unite with legal notice of their intention to dismiss, with notice, thousands of employees before re-engaging them on new inferior contracts.
(CD/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 September 2008
Funding Boost Of £455m For Equal Pay Claims
Funding of £455m will be awarded to councils in England to allow back payments relating to thousands of equal pay claims from women workers. In a move to speed up long-term commitments to achieving equal pay for all council workers, local government minister John Healey gave the go-ahead to 34 councils to raise the money through capitlisation.
Funding Boost Of £455m For Equal Pay Claims
Funding of £455m will be awarded to councils in England to allow back payments relating to thousands of equal pay claims from women workers. In a move to speed up long-term commitments to achieving equal pay for all council workers, local government minister John Healey gave the go-ahead to 34 councils to raise the money through capitlisation.
22 November 2011
Pay Commission Slams 'Victorian Era' Inequalities
The High Pay Commission has published a report on Tuesday, which has found "spiralling" high pay is creating inequalities "last seen in the Victorian era".
Pay Commission Slams 'Victorian Era' Inequalities
The High Pay Commission has published a report on Tuesday, which has found "spiralling" high pay is creating inequalities "last seen in the Victorian era".
01 September 2011
Commission On Minimum Wage Visit
Two Low Pay Commissioners are to visit London next week on a fact-finding visit about the National Minimum Wage. The visit is one of a number of planned trips the Low Pay Commission is making around the UK during 2011 to "gather information on how the minimum wage is operating".
Commission On Minimum Wage Visit
Two Low Pay Commissioners are to visit London next week on a fact-finding visit about the National Minimum Wage. The visit is one of a number of planned trips the Low Pay Commission is making around the UK during 2011 to "gather information on how the minimum wage is operating".
23 October 2015
Employers 'Named And Shamed' For Failure To Pay National Minimum Wage
The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (DBIS) has issued a list of more than 100 employers who have failed to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage. Business Minister Nick Boles published the list in a "name and shame" operation against 115 company, who owe a total of £389,000 to its employees.
Employers 'Named And Shamed' For Failure To Pay National Minimum Wage
The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (DBIS) has issued a list of more than 100 employers who have failed to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage. Business Minister Nick Boles published the list in a "name and shame" operation against 115 company, who owe a total of £389,000 to its employees.
23 June 2014
Local Govt Workers Vote 'Yes' For Strike Action
UNISON's local government and school support workers have voted yes to strike action in a dispute over pay. The low paid, mainly women, workers have faced a 3 year pay freeze and have now been offered a 1% pay rise.
Local Govt Workers Vote 'Yes' For Strike Action
UNISON's local government and school support workers have voted yes to strike action in a dispute over pay. The low paid, mainly women, workers have faced a 3 year pay freeze and have now been offered a 1% pay rise.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
