Taylor Wimpey has asked around 50 joiners and scaffolders in the North East to sign new contracts on reduced terms after a regular pay audit of directly employed workers found they were earning nearly 25% more than comparable roles, with higher bonuses accounting for most of the gap.
The house builder said the review covered a small number of Direct Labour roles whose terms and conditions were significantly ahead of comparable rates. It said the consultation process had been concluded fairly and openly and that it had consulted ACAS.
Unite criticised the move. Regional officer Greg Robson said Taylor Wimpey had serious questions to answer about how it had treated the workers. He said the union would continue to support affected members while pressing the company for information it was entitled to, and that Unite was looking at all avenues to fight the change, including industrial action.
Taylor Wimpey said a grievance had now been raised in line with the Construction Joint Industry Council Working Rule Agreement. The company said it was committed to engaging fully with employees before a final resolution was reached, with a number of potential outcomes still to be considered, and to ensuring all employees were treated fairly and consistently across the business.