Shipyard workers win big

Thirty workers on the Clyde contracted to work on a new type 26 frigate for the Royal Navy called off a planned strike after a significant pay victory in January. After threatening to walk out over a pay offer which would have resulted in them getting less than equivalent “in-house” workers for BAE Systems, the electricians, labourers and cable hands employed by CBL Cable Contractors Limited and based at the BAE Systems Govan and Scotstoun shipyards secured a pay rise of £3.05 per hour.

This means that the lowest paid workers are set to receive a wage increase worth up to 22.8%. By July, all workers will be paid the “shipyard rate”, depending on their role. The Clyde shipyards fall under the scope of the Joint Industry Board Agreement, which sets the standards for employment, grading, and apprentice training in the electrical contracting industry. The workers had been due to take strike action through the months of January, February and March.