The Unite trade union has announced that plumbers, pipefitters and welders in two major companies have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action in pursuit of a claim for restoration of a travel payment.
Unite members at Leo Lynch and H.A. O'Neill (Jones Engineering) voted by over 90% to take action following the failure to restore the first hour of "travel time", which was originally cut as a temporary measure following the 2008 financial crash.
The workers will take strike action on 10 March.
Unite says that mechanical workers in the sector still have not seen their pay rates return to pre-crisis levels and that restoration of the first hour of "travel time" would mean an increase of up to 12.8% in gross pay at a time when workers continue to be hit by the cost-of-living crisis.
Unite members working for other mechanical employers are also being balloted for industrial action in pursuit of the payment.
"It is not too late for the employers to engage with Unite and agree to restoration of the first hour of 'travel time’ before our members down tools on 10 March," said Unite regional officer Rob Kelly.
"In the event that they refuse to do so, two further days of strike action are scheduled, and Unite is continuing to ballot members working for other mechanical companies."
"Unite members are not prepared to subside employers’ profits during a cost-of-living crisis", Mr Kelly added.
