Employers thought they had thrashed out a pay deal based on a 5% rise increase over the next two years under the industry JIB agreement.

The Electrical Contractors Association had reached an agreement after its offer was accepted by a negotiating team from Unite.

But a wider union meeting of shop stewards and activists rejected the deal leading to a ballot over possible industrial action.

The ECA has now written to Unite Assistant General Secretary Gail Cartmail expressing its “huge disappointment” at the rejection.

The association adds: “Our first concern is that negotiations which have been conducted in good faith over a five-month period can be so easily undone by the uninformed views of people who were not actually present during the negotiations.”

Electricians were unhappy that the employers have made another attempt to introduce a new grade of labourer which they see as an attempt to “de-skill” the industry by allowing less qualified workers to carry-out site tasks.

They have launched an online protest against the plan calling for direct action similar to the anti-BESNA campaign which scuppered previous plans for industry reforms.

The association said plans for the new “Entrant Grade” were designed to shift more people into direct employment and attract more people into the industry.

It added: “The proposal was not to de-skill, but simply to provide a mechanism which would encourage firms to directly employ young people, rather than through an agency.”

ECA leaders are now warning that the current ballot threatens the whole JIB structure.

They said: “To learn that the agreement has been overturned by a wider group of activists and shop stewards not present during the negotiations and based on totally unsubstantiated statements is a matter of huge concern to employers and our hopes for the future of the JIB.”