Construction deal goes out to ballot

Members in BECTU’s plasterer, riggers, set crafts and stagehand branches are being invited to vote on a three-year pay deal.

A consultative ballot on the proposal got underway today with the despatch of ballot papers; the result of the ballot will be declared on 11 August, the deadline for the return of papers.

If accepted, the agreement on offer, would leave the basic structure of the working week unchanged and would provide for an RPI pay award of 4.6% for 2008/9, followed by a 3% award in 2009/10 and an increase level with RPI in 2010/11.

After several months of stalemate, the conciliation talks brokered by ACAS on 22 July persuaded management to withdraw contentious proposals to require staff to work any five days out of seven.

Members’ opposition to this particular proposal has been described as “passionate”.

BECTU’s negotiating committee is recommending acceptance of the proposal. If the deal is accepted management have agreed to implement this year’s pay award within seven days of notification of the ballot result.