Building Engineers Accept 10% Pay Rise

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• Building Engineers Accept 10% Pay Rise

03 October 2023

Owing to a settlement between Unite and the Building Engineering Services Association, building engineering services operatives will receive an uplift in pay.

Operatives across the building engineering services sector will receive a seven per cent increase in hourly grade rates from October 2023, including a corresponding increase in Premium Rate 1, Premium Rate 2, daily travelling allowances and responsibility allowances. 

From October 2024, the hourly grade rates will be increased by three per cent. Employer and employee pension contributions will also rise by one per cent of basic pay from October 2024. 

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) negotiated the new rates for hourly paid operatives with Unite the union. An earlier offer was rejected by Unite in June, but the employers returned with improved terms following further consultation with BESA members in July 2023. This was put to a vote and accepted by the union membership earlier this month.

“This round of wage negotiations has been extremely challenging but, with support from BESA’s Employment Policy Committee and the membership, I believe the parties have achieved the right deal for employers and employees,” said BESA’s Head of Employment affairs Paula Samuels.

“Rising costs and pressures on profit margins mean conditions are difficult for everyone in the sector, but fortunately the positive relationship that exists between union representatives and the association allows us to negotiate constructively and in a spirit of mutual trust and co-operation leading to this positive outcome.”

Picture: a photograph of a person wearing a high-vis jacket and hard hat, holding a tablet. A construction site can be seen in the background. Image Credit: Adobe Stock

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 03 October 2023

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