Unite contingent at the TUC demonstration, Cheltenham, 27 January. Photo Workers.
Workers across many sectors organised in Unite have recently secured over £430 million in additional pay and benefits because of successful disputes. For many workers conditions for wage bargaining remain good.
One example is the settlement for thousands of construction workers under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry. There workers won a 17.4 per cent pay rise over two years after a campaign that included the threat of coordinated industrial action. The employers originally offered 8.5 per cent for 2024 and 3.5 per cent for 2025.
Strike action in the Clyde shipyard at Scotstoun and at BAE Systems in Govan has brought further significant pay victories. Unite members working for CBL Cable Contractors called off their strike on 15 January after winning an increase of £3.05 per hour, and 22.8 per cent for the lowest paid. Offshore drillers employed by Odfjell Technology (UK) have won their demand for an improved working rotation, Unite announced on 26 January.
That same day Cheshire refuse workers secured a pay rise of between 7 and 11.1 per cent plus two days more annual leave after their vote for strike action.
• A longer version of this article is on the web at www.cpbml.org.uk