Industry agrees 2-stage operative pay review
A two-and-a-half-year agreement between the B&ES (Building & Engineering Services Association) and the operatives’ trade union Unite will help provide certainty of labour costs for employers in the sector. The agreement covers mechanical operatives and will see a 2.5% increase on all hourly rates from 6 October 2014.
There will be a corresponding rise in daily travelling allowances and overtime rates. There will also be an increase in other allowances and provision, including death disability and accident benefits.
From 5 October 2015, there will be a further increase of 3% in the hourly rate and associated benefits.
The agreement reduces the working week from 38 to 37.5 hours, cuts the morning tea break to 15 minutes and abolishes the afternoon tea break.
Peter Rimmer, B&ES head of employment affairs and skills, said, ‘The new arrangements significantly enhance productive time by removing the afternoon tea break and limiting the morning tea break to 15 minutes. This has allowed a small reduction in the length of the working week, which, if effectively managed, should also lessen the need for overtime working.
