Balfour Beatty U-turn on BESNA working contracts

Aaron Morby 13 years ago
Share

Balfour Beatty Engineering Services has dropped plans to roll out controversial new contracts for building services workers.

The imposition of the new contracts by the firm lay at the heart of a long running dispute, which saw unionised electricians, plumbers, heating and ventilating engineers vote overwhelmingly for strike action twice.

The withdrawal of the contracts follows talks between Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey and Balfour Beatty’s chief executive officer, Mike Peasland.

Unite has now called on the other six building services contractors to follow the lead of Balfour Beatty and withdraw the contracts and the threat of dismissal.

A joint statement issued this morning said: “BBES has agreed to withdraw the BESNA contracts and Unite has agreed not to pursue further industrial action or protest on the basis that wide-ranging talks will now take place on modernising the industry.

“Both parties are committed to high level talks within an agreed timeline with the aim of creating new proposals and ensuring agreed terms are honoured.”

Balfour came under increasing pressure to climbdown after a high court bid to block planned strike action failed earlier this week and high profile demonstrations by rank-and-file workers also spread to engineering construction sites.

The leader of the US Teamsters union James Hoffa also waded into the ongoing dispute this week.

He wrote to Balfour Beatty chief Ian Tyler warning that if the dispute was not resolved to the satisfaction of union colleagues in the UK he would have no option but to demonstrate the Teamsters support.

Balfour was one of seven construction firms who sought to tear up the long-standing Joint Industry Boards agreements and impose a new semi-skilled grade.

Unions claimed the new contracts would have led to pay cuts as a new grade took work from higher paid electricians. But the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association, which aims to oversee the new industry agreement, argues no workers would be worse off.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said: “Balfour Beatty’s decision to withdraw these contracts, the threat of dismissal and to enter high level talks is a welcome move.

“Not only is it a victory for common sense, but is testament to the resolve of hard working construction workers who have stood shoulder to shoulder to defend their livelihoods.

“Continuing to impose these contracts would have resulted in a race to the bottom that would have been bad for the industry.

“We expect the other six construction firms to see sense and follow Balfour Beatty’s lead in talking seriously about securing livelihoods and bringing stability to the industry.”

Latest news

Willmott Dixon wins Great Yarmouth waterfront deal

North Quay 10.5 acres mixed-use scheme to advance
17 hours ago

Care home fire trial collapses

Prosecution withdrawn against four firms including Morgan Sindall Property Services
18 hours ago

Eight take key spots on £250m Prosper framework

Housing and public building upkeep deal for North East awarded
18 hours ago

McLaren storms April contracts league with flurry of wins

Cardiff Bay Arena job headlines a series of big contract wins
21 hours ago

Balfour Beatty lifts cash forecast after strong first quarter

Contractor set to hit £1bn average monthly net cash in 2025
22 hours ago

Goldman Sachs-owned Adler & Allan buys 180-strong civils outfit

West Country's Glanville Environmental gets new owner
21 hours ago

Caddick lands first contract for £200m Skelmersdale revamp

Developer gets green light for masterplan
22 hours ago

Van Elle sells HGV fleet to haulage firm

WS Specialist Logistics pays £2.9m to take on fleet and drivers
22 hours ago

Buyers more bullish about prospects for year ahead

Residential "resilient" but commercial work a weak spot
2 days ago

Council backs first Brutalist car park-to-flats scheme

Newcastle-under-Lyme multi-storey car park to be reborn as pioneering homes scheme
2 days ago

Hinkley Point C hits peak build with 26,000 jobs

3,000 more workers to join as fit-out work ramps up
2 days ago

Over 40 firms win Wessex Water M&E minor works deal

Broad sweep of specialists picked for AMP8 programme
2 days ago

Spencer lands Scottish bridge hat-trick

Steelwork, gantries and bearing upgrades on Kessock, Forth and Tay crossings
3 days ago

Winners revealed for £1.5bn decarbonisation deal

Fusion21 confirms places for 40 firms: Full list
2 days ago

Cladding firm fined £225,000 after fatal fall

Court hears how cherry picker didn't reach all parts of repair job
2 days ago

Early call-out for Ebbsfleet Garden City infrastructure

Bidders day to set out plan for Ebbsfleet Central commercial scheme
2 days ago

Completed buildings caught-up in Gateway 2 chaos

Developer distraught after dealing with Building Safety Regulator
3 days ago

Aviva submits plans for 34-storey City office tower

Subject to planning work to start in autumn 2027
3 days ago

Murphy takes 40% stake in Aussie civils contractor

Firm enters Australasian market with stake in Sydney-based contractor Abergeldie
3 days ago

Moat seeks firm for £420m repairs and maintenance deal

15-year deal to upkeep 20,000 south east homes
3 days ago

Lynch takes over hotel for Sizewell plant operators

Hire giant now in the hotel business to guarantee accommodation for workers
3 days ago

Subcontractors wanted across Scotland

Latest Constructionline event in Glasgow: Register now
3 days ago

Six guilty of £2m bribery over Devon housing site deals

Corrupt building bosses and E.ON project chief and QS sentenced
1 week ago

1,650 former ISG staff launch legal claims

Redundancy Payment Service facing payout of more than £9m
1 week ago

Plans lodged for £1bn cancer research centre in Sutton

London Cancer Hub will deliver around 1m sq ft of lab and research space
7 days ago

London Met Uni seeks firm for £284m estate revamp

Contractor wanted to deliver capital works and FM
7 days ago

Delayed £2bn estate rebuild back on as Berkeley signs deal

Birmingham council development agreement paves way for 2028 Ladywood start
1 week ago

Tilbury Douglas boosts margin to 2.1% as profits double

Firm targets 3.5% margin by 2029 under new business plan
1 week ago

Subbies battle for fastest bricklayer title

Winchmore management team go back on the tools
1 week ago

Green light for revised McLaren Reading revamp

Mixed-use plans to transform Broad Street Mall site
7 days ago

Contractor services