Crane drivers vote to strike at Ainscough

AROUND 500 crane operators at national crane hire firm Ainscough have voted to strike, after spurning a pay offer.

The Wigan-based company said it had offered employees 2.5% this year and 2.75% next year, but the trade union Unite said this offer was “pitiful” and the “overwhelming” strike vote was a wake up call to management.

Unite claims the pay deal fails to recognise the workforce’s contribution to last year’s £14m profit and said major construction projects such as the M1 and M6 motorway upgrades would be delayed by the strikes.

The union’s 500 crane operator and support staff members, who operate lifting services on UK construction projects including, on the M1 and M6 motorway upgrades and the new Forth Road Bridge, voted by 90% for strike action, on an 83%  turnout. Over 90 per cent voted for action short of a strike.

A series of escalating strikes are planned across the company’s 30 UK-wide depots, starting on February 1 to 23 March. A programme of overtime bans will begin on  January 30 to March 20.

Unite national officer for construction Bernard McAulay said: “The strength of this strike ballot result should serve as a wake-up call to management. Our members are highly skilled crane operatives working on some of the UK’s premier construction sites in challenging conditions. They deserve better from their multi-million profit making employer.

“Our members’ hard work, skills and dedication have helped make Ainscough the highly profitable and respected business it is today. They are justifiably angry that the company can boast of making a £14m profit last year and yet offer a derisory pay increase in return.

“Ainscough needs to heed this warning and come back to the negotiating table with an improved pay offer or risk major disruption to its UK-wide operations. Our members are seeking a pay deal that recognises the dynamic and specialist skills they have.”

A spokesperson for Ainscough Crane Hire said management had also offered a new 1.5% depot performance bonus, an improvement on the mileage allowance and a 2.5% increase on a “radius allowance”.

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