Tradespeople to launch strike action over 'travel time' pay

The action is set to involve a series of one-day stoppages at large construction sites

Unite members are seeking the reinstatement of payment for the first hour of 'travel time' which they say was cut following the 2008 financial crisis.

Plumbers, fitters, and welders on construction projects across the country will this week serve notice of industrial action on employers, demanding restoration of payment for the first hour of ‘travel time’, the trade union Unite has said.

The notice is to be served on employers who are members of the Mechanical Engineering and Building Services Contractors’ Association (Mebsca), which is a representative group.

Earlier this month, members voted by over 90% for industrial action in pursuit of restoration of the first hour of travel time. The ballot came after talks with Mebsca broke down at the beginning of July.

Unite said the payment of the first hour of travel time was cut following the 2008 financial crisis in what was supposed to be a temporary measure. It has not yet been restored.

At a meeting of Unite’s disputes committee, it was decided that the action will initially comprise a series of one-day stoppages at large construction sites around the country.

While the specific sites have not yet been determined, the disputes committee said it has decided to exclude residential projects in light of the housing crisis.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said it is “unacceptable” that its members are still dealing with this cut 14 years after it was imposed.

'In employers’ hands'

Unite regional officer James McCabe said that “resolution of this dispute is in the employers’ hands”.

“They can either return to the negotiating table with a meaningful offer or prepare for significant disruption,” said Mr McCabe.

In response to the announcement, Mebsca said its pay agreements have already been negotiated and it is “extremely disappointed that its members are yet again being targeted by Unite for additional increases in pay”.

“It is only eight months since Mebsca entered into an agreement with Unite which will yield pay increases for Unite members of 12.7%,” said Mebsca.

“Unite is now seeking to double this increase despite the fact that this agreement does not expire until May 2026.”

It said that the first hour of travel has been incorporated in hourly pay since 2011.