Taylor Wimpey has asked about 50 joiners and scaffolders in the North East to sign new contracts on reduced terms after a regular pay audit found they were earning nearly 25% more than comparable roles. The higher pay was mainly due to larger bonuses. The discrepancy was identified during regular pay audits for directly employed workers.
Unite regional officer Greg Robson said Taylor Wimpey had serious questions to answer about its treatment of the workers. He said the union would continue to support affected members, press the company for information it is entitled to and examine all options, including industrial action.
Taylor Wimpey said the review was part of a regular benchmarking exercise. It identified a small number of direct labour roles where terms and conditions were significantly ahead of comparable rates and required review, the company said. It added that the consultation process had been concluded fairly and openly and that it had consulted ACAS.
Taylor Wimpey said a grievance had been raised under the Construction Joint Industry Council Working Rule Agreement. It said it was committed to engaging fully with employees before a final resolution and that several potential outcomes remained under consideration. No final outcome has been reached. The company also said it was committed to ensuring all employees were treated fairly and consistently throughout the process.