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n By Hajera Blagg


‘Life-changing pay rise’


Unite secures decisive pay victory for CBL cable workers


Unite members contracted to work on the new Type 26 Frigate on the Clyde started the new year with a bang.


Around 30 members employed by CBL Cable Contractors Limited called off strike action in January after a decisive pay victory that will see the lowest paid workers’ wages rise by an astonishing 22.8 per cent.


The dispute centred around CBL workers, based at the BAE Systems Govan and Scotstoun shipyards on the Clyde, being paid far below ‘the shipyard rate’ – an implied agreement where no one working on site is paid below BAE Systems workers in similar roles.


While for years, CBL workers toiled under unacceptably low rates of pay, the matter came to a head just over a year ago, when they collectively decided enough was enough.


“


Throughout this whole dispute, the employer kept suggesting that we would never see industrial action through – that we haven’t got the bottle. But we’ve now proven to them that we will stick together and we won’t take no for an answer


Eighteen months ago, the workers were not unionised, but with the support of Unite reps on the shipyard, they worked hard to sign up more and more members. Within months, they achieved almost 100 per cent membership. With their newfound power, they were ready to flex their collective strength.


They began with collective grievances and talks with CBL and BAE Systems in the hopes that their employer would come to the table and see sense. Their only demand was to be paid the BAE Systems shipyard rate or £1 an hour more.


The dispute also involved travel-related payments because the Clyde shipyard is governed by the Joint Industry Board Agreement (JIBA). A cornerstone of the agreement is travel time and the use of a personal vehicle to travel to work, which entitles workers to a mileage allowance.


But their perfectly reasonable demands were met with deaf years, and that’s when they turned to their last resort – strike action.


“No one goes into a dispute wanting to take strike action, but we’ve put up with so much for so many years, we’d decided we had to do something


Andrew Potter, Unite CBL ”


about it,” said Unite CBL rep Andrew Potter. “When it came to the ballot, the workforce was 100 per cent behind it.”


It wasn’t until strike action was on the 10 Unite buildingWORKER Spring 2024


table – with multiple strike days planned throughout January, February and March – that the employer finally relented and agreed to settle two of the four pay disputes.


Unite shop steward James Harte, who represents BAE systems electricians on the shipyard, was among those who advised Andrew and other CBL members as they organised themselves and ramped up their dispute.


James hailed CBL members’ solidarity in this important win.


“Their victory shows what can be achieved by first of all, coming together as a union, and second of all, sticking together come what may – watching each other’s backs and supporting their shop steward and never wavering,” James said. “It’s a testament to the guys’ determination.”


Andrew said members were “over the moon” and “ecstatic” about their recent win. The lowest paid workers, mostly labourers and cable hands, will now be paid £3.05 per hour more.


“This pay rise will be absolutely life- changing for them in every way possible,” he said.


Although there remains two disputes with CBL that are yet to be resolved involving members on different rates of pay, their initial victory has emboldened them to collectively keep fighting. Andrew said that he felt their employer


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