newsTop stories
uniteBUILDINGWORKER Comment
Jason Poulter National officer
UNITE PROTECTING YOU AND YOURS
UNITE’S
Thousands of electricians will benefit from a 14 per cent pay rise over three years secured by Unite.
The deal, negotiated through the Joint Industry Board (JIB) agreement, will benefit nearly 10,000 electricians employed by around 550 employers.
From next January, the workers will receive a 3.95 per cent rise, followed by a 4.6 per cent rise in 2027 and a 4.85 per cent rise in 2028. Cumulatively, wages will increase by 14 per cent over three years.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “This excellent deal was reached because the JIB employers know Unite members have strong collective bargaining powers. Throughout the construction industry, Unite’s total dedication to improving jobs, pay and conditions is winning for workers.”
Apprentices will receive a two per cent rise in 2027 and a three per cent rise in 2028 and the deal also provides improvements to sick pay.
In addition, Unite will begin discussions with Electrical Contractors Association, the employers’ side of the JIB, on improving terms and conditions for pensions and travel expenditure.
Unite national officer for construction, Jason Poulter, said, “The increase of 14 per cent over the next three years was hard won by Unite through our lay member negotiators. Alongside the increase to electrical apprenticeship pay, this represents an excellent result only achievable by solid union organisation and workers coming together to ensure their skills are properly valued.”
5 unite buildingWORKER Autumn 2025
I’d like to start by paying tribute to John Gillespie. Many of you will have known John from his tireless work, giving construction workers a voice and fighting for improved rights and conditions for people across the sector.
John was a trade unionist through and through, and when not chairing Unite Scotland and the Construction NISC, could be found on picket lines across the UK supporting workers’ struggle. He was an inspiration and will be sadly missed.
Never far from the news is the increasing shortage of vital construction skills needed to deliver the government’s targets on house building, infrastructure projects and net zero.
Unite and its thousands of reps have been working hard, to ensure high quality jobs and the training opportunities the country desperately needs.
Unite reps have successfully negotiated improved pay, including a recent agreement covering electricians, that will make construction more attractive to young people starting out.
As extreme weather becomes increasingly common, the need for legislation to protect workers becomes more urgent.
Anyone who has worked on a construction project this summer will understand the impact extreme temperatures can have on a worker’s health. But there’s also the increased severity of storms and wet weather events.
Unite in Ireland recently launched the Workers in the eye of the storm report, and a motion carried at the 2025 Policy Conference in July highlighted the dangers workers face, while calling on the government to introduce improved safety legislation.
Finally, Unite has launched a new mental health support package. It offers confidential help and advice to reps, and their families, from fully qualified mental health professionals, is available 24/7 at the end of the phone, and I urge all reps throughout the construction sector to consider making use of this free resource.
• See pages 7, 12, 22, 24, 28
Getty Images
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
