Construction BUSINESS

According to an RTE report, four construction unions have queried the negotiating position of fellow union Unite at a recent Labour Court hearing on pay rates in the construction sector. The move comes as a strike by crane drivers represented by Unite have shut down two key sites in Dublin

The dispute looks set to escalate next month as the union extends its ballot to all CIF firms. The four unions’ joint statement highlights the mounting tension and divergence in industrial strategy between them and Unite, which has been accused of poaching members from SIPTU, which traditionally represented crane drivers.

SIPTU has lodged a formal complaint against Unite with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. SIPTU, the Building and Allied Trades’ Union (BATU), the Electrical Engineering and Construction Union (TEEU), the Plasters Union of Ireland (OPATSI) and Unite are all members of the ICTU Construction Industry Committee.

However, SIPTU, BATU, the TEEU and OPATSI have issued a statement saying that it has come to their attention that building workers are being told that Unite was pushing for a 15% pay rise while the ICTU argued for a 10% rise at a Labour Court hearing last Monday.

They query the accuracy of this version of events. They say that in 2015, all construction unions were pressing for a 7.5% pay rise to restore a previous 2011 pay cut, as well as a 2.5% pay rise over three years.

In total, that would amount to a 15% increase. The four unions say that it was subsequently agreed unanimously by all unions – including Unite – to press for new minimum rates equivalent to a 10.2% pay rise above current agreed construction rates.

They say that the objective is to secure this increase now, and to get it enshrined in a legally binding Sectoral Employment Order, so that there would be no undercutting by non-union competitors.