A total of 3,000 engineering construction workers who operate under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI) have accepted a two-year pay increase worth a minimum of 17.4%.
The NAECI staff, who are members of trade unions Unite and GMB, carry out essential repair and maintenance at oil refineries, power stations, and pharmaceutical and petro-chemical plants. They are stationed at Stanlow, Fawley, Valero, Grangemouth, Mossmorran Oil Refineries and Sellafield Nuclear Facility.
The workers will receive an 11.3% rise from this month and at least 5.5% from January 2025. This is more than the initial offer for 2024 and 2025, which was 8.5% and 3.5% respectively. Following the initial offer, Unite balloted its members for strike action and they voted in favour of it.
The deal also includes the introduction of a £1 an hour London rate enhancement, a £20 increase to the London supplement daily rate to £30.40, a £30 a week rise for sickness and accident benefits, increasing by a further £30 per week from January 2025, and a promise to undertake research into employer and employee pension contributions.
A NAECI spokesperson said: “In the event that UK inflation between September and November 2024 inclusive, as an average of the three months, increases by 3% more than the rate of increase agreed for 2025, i.e. 5.5% + 3% = 8.5%, the unions may make representations to the employers through the National Joint Council to discuss the current position of the NAECI versus prevailing economic conditions.”
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, added: “This outstanding deal was achieved because our members knew the NAECI employers could not ignore their demands if they acted collectively.”
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, national officer at GMB, said: “These skilled workers have fought valiantly for the pay rise they so richly deserve. In the face of mounting inflation and the erosion of their wages, they united in solidarity and successfully secured this truly remarkable deal. They should take great pride in their unwavering commitment to their cause.”