BESNA companies targeted after BBES withdrawal

20 February 2012 | By Jack Sidders

Unite the union has begun to build pressure on the six remaining major electrical contractors planning to introduce the Building Engineering Services National Agreement after Balfour Beatty announced plans to withdraw.

Uinte’s Bernard McAulay is in the process of contacting the contractors – Tommy Clarke, Crown House Technologies, Gratte Brothers, SES and Spie Matthew Hall – to warn them of the consequences if they fail to follow Balfour Beatty Engineering Services’ lead and abandon the new agreements.

The contractors are understood to be in the process of calling board meetings to discuss a response to the developments.

BBES’ decision to drop BESNA in favour of talks with Unite comes after the contractor lost its court battle to block the union’s planned strike action.

Both sides have now agreed a truce ahead of further talks to reform the Joint Industry Board Agreements which the contractors had planned to leave in favour of the new BESNA.

Unite said it would not now continue with strike action.