Heating operatives to vote on new pay deal

Operatives in the heating and ventilating sector are set to vote on a new three-year pay settlement said to be worth about 11% overall.It will give an average increase of 3.7% per year. The employers’ offer is being recommended for acceptance by the Amicus union.

A settlement is due from this autumn. The current offer from the employers of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association follows a three-year wage agreement covering the period 2003-06. This provided a 13% increase in stages of 3.5%, 4.5%, and 5.1%. It brought a new craft minimum rate of £10 per hour.

The heating and ventilating negotiations represent the major construction pay settlement of the second half of the year. As such, they may set a benchmark for ongoing talks on a new deal for engineering construction next year.

[Contract Journal, 11 October 2006, p 4]