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CAMPAIGN CIJC
n By Hajera Blagg
Unite to support branch campaigns
Unite members voted to accept the latest Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) pay and conditions offer, which came into effect on June 24, with an additional rate increase in January 2025. Unite members voted to accept the offer by a strong majority of 81 per cent, with GMB members also voting to accept the offer.
The CIJC is the UK’s largest agreement in the construction sector. The employment of over 500,000 workers is influenced by the agreement, with workers covered by the agreement predominantly employed in civil engineering.
Following extensive negotiations between Unite negotiating reps and CIJC employers, the CIJC pay and conditions offer this year will entail a 4.5 per cent rise in minimum pay rates and associated allowances. The allowances include taxed travel and industry sick pay. The deal also sets out an additional day of annual leave from January 2025.
The pay deal this year is above inflation, which, as of writing, has
hovered just above 3 per cent. The CIJC employers’ side have also committed to review other elements put forward in the claim through further negotiations during 2024/25. This includes sickness, welfare and pensions, as well as skill rates including those concerning plant operation.
Unite negotiating rep Paul Mooney highlighted that this is the best offer that could be achieved through negotiations, adding that there was “a real sense of momentum towards achieving improvements in conditions which can be built upon moving forward”.
But Paul emphasised that Unite members should be aware that rates of pay set out in the CIJC agreement “are the very minimum payable”.
“It is absolutely vital that Unite members understand that acceptance of this offer does not prevent employees in workplaces seeking to achieve a higher rate increase through local campaigning and negotiations,” he said.
“Unite is committed to supporting its members in any such campaign.”
Unite national officer for construction Jason Poulter also stressed that CIJC rates should be seen only as a starting point.
“The CIJC is a vital agreement, whose pay and conditions our fantastic Unite reps work tirelessly to negotiate on to secure better pay and conditons for our members,” he said.
“Each and every year, our Unite team of negotiating reps also strives to ensure that the CIJC agreement continues to evolve so that it is fit for purpose.”
“But it must be reiterated that the CIJC is a bare minimum standards agreement,” Jason added.
“Unite’s construction sector will stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of our members and reps in organised workplaces who wish to develop local campaigns to achieve the best deal possible for construction members.”
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