Hopes grow of averting engineering strike

Hopes of avoiding a national strike in the engineering construction sector have increased after employers softened their hard-line stance towards workers' demands for improved pay and conditions.

The latest talks between the employers and unions last Friday resulted in an offer from contractors to improve terms under the Naeci "blue book" agreement.

The proposals will now be put to a meeting of more than 100 shop stewards in London on 17 September.

Contractors at the Engineering Construction Industry Association have agreed to improvements in the deal as thousands of pipefitters, plumbers and scaffolders voted for industrial action in a nationwide ballot.

Results of the strike ballot are still being counted, but the industry is expecting a mandate for strike action if the talks break down.

One source close to the negotiations said: "Workers have already taken unofficial strike action this summer so I don't see any reason why they wouldn't back a call for official action during the ballot.

"The employers have moved from their original position of offering nothing and it will now just be a case of whether the stewards accept it."

Unions Unite and the GMB want more vacancies to go to UK workers following a string of local disputes this year over the use of cheap foreign labour on power and petrochemical plants across the country.

Polish construction workers at the Isle of Grain Refinery in Kent were being underpaid by 30% earlier this year when Unite discovered they were being paid £10.01 an hour, instead of the agreed £14.

The union's demands:

• A register of unemployed workers in the industry which the employers must use to fill vacancies

• A transparent, effective auditing system to monitor 'Blue Book' rates and other benefits that apply to all

• A pay rise

• 12 paid trips home for all workers regardless of where they come from

• Ability for union full time officials to instigate grievance procedure at any site

• Procedure to ensure all workers have appropriate skills