Construction workers have been contacting construction union UCATT in their droves to complain that contractors are trying to duck the national holiday.

According to the union the most common ruse is to introduce a shutdown in the week beginning Easter Monday (April 25), to avoid paying workers for an extra day’s holiday.

Calls have come in from around the country but the tactic is understood to be most acute in Scotland where construction employers are reluctant to honour the recent industry agreement regarding the extra day’s leave.

Harry Frew, regional secretary for UCATT Scotland, said: “Companies need to honour the decision to make the Royal Wedding a paid bank holiday.”

He threatened: “If employers try to prevent UCATT members receiving this extra day, we will take all means necessary to secure them their full leave.”

Despite the Government announcing that the Royal Wedding would be an additional bank holiday, they did not increase the holiday entitlement under the working time directive accordingly.

Therefore only workers, whose contracts specify they receive all bank holidays as paid leave, automatically receive an extra day’s holiday.

For all other construction workers an additional day paid leave needs to be agreed.

In February, contractors and construction unions agreed that the industry working rule agreement would honour the Royal Wedding Bank Holiday  on April 29.

This means workers will be entitled to a paid day off on that date or can take in in lieu at  a later date.