The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has agreed a four-year wage deal that will see its members' pay increase by up to 3% in 2020.
The pay rises will be staggered, with members seeing an initial 2% increase in wages during 2017, before reaching 2.5% in 2018, 2.75% in 2019, and 3% by 2020.
The deal will also see other changes, including a new mileage allowance and mileage rate to replace an existing travel allowance, periodic return fares on jobs over 100 and 200 miles to be paid every two weeks, and an increase in annual holiday to 23 days in 2019 and 24 days in 2020.
The agreement with trade union Unite will take effect from January 2017.
Paul McNaughton, chief negotiator at the ECA, said: “I’m pleased with the outcome of the negotiations; it’s all the more welcome [because] it provides certainty at a time of considerable uncertainty in the wider economy.
"Having a four-year settlement gives the ECA, together with Unite, the opportunity to achieve agreement on wider long-term changes which are necessary to modernise the industry.”
Bernard McAulay, national officer at Unite, added: “Our members have voted to accept a four-year wages and conditions settlement that will deliver industrial relations stability in a very difficult economic climate. The electrical contracting industry is changing at a pace and now is the time for the parties to address the challenges of tomorrow.”
