Today’s top stories...Construction workers’ bonus pay win

Construction workers employed at the Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire secured a major increase in bonus payments following industrial action, Unite announced today (August 7).

The deal covers over 450 construction workers operating under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI).

Strike action was due to begin on July 18, but was called off after employers agreed to fresh talks on the bonus rate. As a result, the hourly bonus rate was then increased from 80 pence an hour to the maximum £2.37 an hour – an increase in bonus payments of just under 300 per cent.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “This is an excellent result which was achieved by workers coming together and maintaining a unified front. Unite had been clear from the outset that the employers and the client could fully afford to increase the bonus payment and that proved to be entirely the case.”

Scotland’s councils’ workers to strike over pay

Meanwhile in Scotland Unite confirmed that its council membership in education and early years services across 10 councils have voted for industrial action.

Thousands of key council workers are now set to take targeted industrial action when schools resume after the summer break. This includes janitors, cleaners, caterers, classroom assistants and administrative staff.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “The message for both the Scottish government and COSLA is loud and clear. Thousands of our members have voted to take strike action in education and early years services because they won’t accept a real terms pay cut.

“Our members deserve far more than the five per cent being served up by the politicians. We will support our members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions in local government.”

Compiled by Amanda Campbell