Crane strike suspended

A planned strike by Unite members at tower crane company HTC Wolffkran has been suspended following pay negotiations held today (September 4).

The pay offer will see workers receive a six per cent pay increase over two years as well as two one off payments of ÂŁ250 by the end of 2017. In addition workers will see their paid annual leave entitlement increase by two days by January 2019 and receive greater flexibility on taking unpaid leave during the Christmas shutdown.

Unite’s members at HTC Wolffkran will be balloted on whether they wish to accept the offer and this ballot will be completed by Friday, September 2017.

The strike action, which would have seen widespread disruption on many construction sites, had been scheduled for Friday, September 8.

“The latest offer is a significant step forward and Unite has suspended the planned strike action to allow members to decide if they wish to accept it,” said Unite regional officer Paul Lomax.

“Throughout this dispute Unite has always said that we have been fully prepared to negotiate and that we believed a settlement was possible,” he added. “We are pleased that HTC Wolffkran returned to the negotiating table and that an improved offer could be made.

“If members reject the improved offer then Unite will reschedule the industrial action.”