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As tradespeople mull industrial action, building companies say they've been 'targeted' by union

The action will initially comprise a series of one-day stoppages at large construction sites around the country.

THE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING construction contractors has expressed extreme disappointment at the decision of Unite union members to take part in industrial action this week, saying its members have been “targeted” by the union.

Yesterday the Unite union, which represents plumbers, fitters and welders on construction projects across Ireland, said 90% of its members had voted in favour of industrial action with the aim of restoring payment for the first hour of travel time.

Unite said it would be serving notice of the action to the Mechanical Engineering & Building Services Contractors’ Association (MEBSCA).

The action will initially comprise a series of one-day stoppages at large construction sites around the country, a union spokesperson said, adding that “while the specific sites have not yet been determined, the disputes committee has decided to exclude residential projects in light of the current housing crisis”.

“The decision to ballot for industrial action came after talks with MEBSCA broke down at the beginning of July,” Unite said in a statement.

Today, MEBSCA said it was “extremely disappointed that its members are yet again being targeted by Unite for additional increases in pay”.

“It is only eight months since MEBSCA entered into an agreement with Unite, which will yield pay increases for Unite members of 12.7%. Unite is now seeking to double this increase despite the fact that this agreement does not expire until May 2026,” a spokesperson for the association said.

MEBSCA said its members pay a travel allowance on top of pay and that they made an agreement with Unite in 2011, “which incorporated the first hour of travel into hourly rates”.

“This agreement had the effect of increasing the hourly rate which also resulted in a higher rate being paid for overtime and holidays.”

MEBSCA said that Unite is now seeking to maintain that higher rate of pay “while also seeking to reverse the agreement that was freely entered into by Unite at that time”. 

The statement added that no other union is seeking additional increases and that taking industrial action against MEBSCA members, “whose employees enjoy higher rates of pay in addition to being paid travel allowances, will only result in contracts being awarded to non-MEBSCA members”. 

MEBSCA said it will continue to honour all agreements and urged Unite to do the same.

“We also urge Unite to withdraw the threat of industrial action and to use the tried and tested industrial relations bodies of the WRC and/or the Labour Court to assist in resolving this dispute.”

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    Mute lastfewchocices
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    Aug 19th 2024, 10:21 AM

    Wow. The greed of developers is never ending. Good luck to these workers

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    Mute Aoibhinn Callanan
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    Aug 19th 2024, 12:04 PM

    @lastfewchocices: get a grip. Labour costs are out of control

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    Mute The next small thing
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    Aug 19th 2024, 11:05 AM

    I was supportive of the workers initially however it seems that agreements were reached previously regarding both pay and travel (according to this article).
    Maybe work out what increase was given in 2011 when the travel payment was abolished and reduce the hourly rate accordingly and reintroduce the travel payment, can’t see the union agreeing to that though.
    Also if there is a pay agreement in place until 2026 then this should be honoured by both parties.

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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Aug 19th 2024, 11:28 AM

    @The next small thing: Absolutely

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    Mute Chaotic State
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    Aug 19th 2024, 11:45 AM

    Wouldn’t be too worried about tradesmen going on strike as they will probably turn up late for it or not at all.

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    Mute Paul Moore
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    Aug 19th 2024, 12:14 PM

    I would also love to be paid for commuting to work

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    Mute Niall English
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    Aug 19th 2024, 12:47 PM

    @Paul Moore: or maybe move job, remote work, ask for a pay rise.

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    Mute Toca Stories
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    Aug 19th 2024, 1:39 PM

    @Paul Moore: it’s based on the fact that tradesmen move around from site to site. They don’t have the luxury of a permanent location but need to go wherever the work is. This can mean additional costs like fuel and food and commuting times. I think the original intention of the payment was to ensure that workforce was flexible and that each new contract didn’t require a renegotiation of terms every time.

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    Mute paul dutton
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    Aug 19th 2024, 5:25 PM

    @Paul Moore: get a trade so.

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Aug 19th 2024, 11:22 AM

    The price just went up 10%

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    Mute Tom Carroll
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    Aug 19th 2024, 6:28 PM

    They’re paying hundreds of thousands that do nothing, they pay people to mind their own families, they’re paying ethnic minorities that do not contribute in any way shape or form so why not pay the people that get up and travel every day to work in the pissing rain and freezing days. The working people of this country are paying for everything.

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Aug 19th 2024, 3:41 PM

    Everyone else is strapping on saddles to as many people as they can. Why shouldn’t these guys be any different!

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