£55,000 for builders at Heathrow!!!!!
 

£55,000 wage for airport builders

Building workers on Heathrow airport's new terminal will be paid a "ground breaking" salary of £55,000.

Their union, Ucatt, said the pay rates would herald a new era for building projects in this country.

General secretary George Brumwell said the deal, covering 3,000 workers on the Terminal Five scheme, included on the job training and a good occupational health scheme.

He praised contractors Laing O'Rourke for treating its workers with respect.

Unskilled workers on the £2.6 billion project will be paid up to £32,000 a year.

Electricians on the project are not covered by the deal and are expected to receive even better salaries.

...any idea how the subs for Ucatt compare with Balpa?

:eek: :eek: Well it just goes to show the state of Aviation and the lack of respect we in the industry recive when Builders earn more than Engineers and Pilots.:mad: :mad:
What the point of staying??????:confused:

And i was offered a job last week working on trains that paid more than I'm earning as an Engineer:confused: :confused:

It,s simple supply and demand aviation has thousands of wannabes who have trained them selfs trying to get in to a job , but you try to get hold of some one to fix the roof on your house !.

I dont see a line of highly motivated builders looking for work so the £55,000 must be what it takes to get the staff that are needed.

Please dont think that just because you are a pilot you should be paid more than a builder , the capitalist system just dont work that way !.

now that's what I call union representation!

Hey A and C,

I suppose you still have a toolbox? Go work on T5, after all
you were ambivolent / omnipotent in Debonair too!!!:) :)

A& C
You are wrong, the problem with pilots is that they have not taken their Directors B****cks in their hands and gently squeezed them like the builders workers do.
When are Airline Pilots going to wake up to their unique position in the Industry?
Stop allowing others to think that we are indulging in a hobby.

I have to agree with A and C.

It is very simply supply and demand.

Why begrudge a builder getting paid that if that is what their employer is agreeing to pay. I am sure Laing O'Rourke are not being purely benevolent!

The best rate of salary increase I have had in the UK was the late '80s when there was a shortage of pilots.

If people are so dissatisfied with what their airline is paying why do they stay? Shortage of jobs perhaps?

It is a free market.

I have to agree with A & C and M.Mouse - it is simply supply and demand. Skilled building tradesmen are in short supply, on the other habnd there is a queue around the block for people wanting pilot jobs.

I also think it makes a refreshing change too see some genuine workers get a decent pay rate, at least they are doing something useful unlike most of the jobs you see advertised in the Guardian for 40 K

(Sure Start programme manager - Our Programme Managers will: - Have a proven track record of working with disadvantaged, multi-ethnic communities and an understanding of the needs of parents and children and community dynamics.

Not quite sure what community dynamics are?)

Just as a comparison here is the latest advert for VS,

A + C Certifying Engineer

Location: Heathrow

Salary: £29,000-£33,600 + Shift Allowance

Closing Date: 24th January 2003


Shift 4 on 4 off - 12 hours

With a rapidly expanding fleet of aircraft that currently total 26. We're not stopping there. In addition to Boeing 747's and Airbus A340's, we have now taken delivery of the new Airbus A340/600 series.

As an A+C Certifying Engineer, you'll accomplish designated maintenance requirements on Virgin Atlantic aircraft, whilst ensuring the standards of airworthiness set by the CAA are met.

You'll have approximately 5 years line or hangar aircraft maintenance experience and the appropriate LWTR. In addition, you'll have proven supervisory and communication skills. Approvals on 747-200 747-400 and A340-300 would be an advantage. This is a hardworking and often-pressurised unit, yet if you're a team player and enthusiastic, you'll thrive in this environment.

In addition to your salary and a uniform, we'll give you outstanding benefits that include, after a qualifying period, private health cover, life assurance, a pension scheme and one of the best concessionary travel schemes in the industry, including seven free flights a year.

I guess you could work on the building site on your 4 days off to supplement that wage packet!!!

Think that's bad? Just as well you didn't see the TV article on Plumbers - £75,000 - £135,000!

at 32K, an unskilled labourer will be earning more than a police officer, nurse, fireman to name but a few. In regard of the skilled workers, the pay is incredible.

Just think, some of them might be able to save enough to put themselves through Oxford!

When the thread on the easyjet type rating scheme was first posted , people were saying '' who cares about pay, after 5 years on reduced salary you should come on top''. Bla-blabla bla. Just visit the thread ,it is sickening, but if people are prepared to be s~~~~t, well good for them.
Lets not blame the builders , instead we should blame ourselves for jumping out to anything that will give us a so called ''job''.
So go and pay for your type rating and earn half as much for a job that demands ten times us much.
I wonder what the entry requirements are?.

:) :) :)

All I can say is "wheres my shovel!".

as for the plumbers. Apparently £75K and above is possible but you've really got to work all hours etc, assuming your not over-charging!

The point is chaps, that the majority of these "unskilled" labourers, are in fact very highly skilled at what they do. They also work hours that would make you turn in your comfy chair, and do not have the job security that we are blessed with.
More power to their elbow I say, perhaps the rates might persaude the BAA to build the terminal elsewhere and stop expanding Heathrow.

Niknak.......... as a Licensed Engineer, I consider myself highly skilled at what I do (Some dont), I also work in conditions and hours that would make you turn in your Comfy chair, and I certainly dont get paid £55,000 a year.:mad: :mad: :mad:

More unfortunately, will probably result in BAA redoubling their efforts to recoup those costs through charges to the airlines; and then the airlines through charges on to the passengers.

flying is increasingly more akin to a "Vocation" these days ........ "Tradesmen" are simply in it to earn a lot of money .....

And don't forget that most construction workers get no sick pay, no medical insurance, no pension, and spend a lot of their time standing up to their balls in freezing mud. Good luck to them, Anybody who thinks the money is too high should sign up.

nik nak - you are of course quite correct.

"builders" or building trades employees (of various trades) often work unsociable hours which, in the building industry, attract premium rates. The employers appear to be passing some of the benefits directly to their employees (which they are obliged to do in accordance with the working rules of the industry). A bit like airlines who make good profits passing on the benefits to their pilots and cabin crew!!! No working rules in our industry unfortunately.

Also, work of this kind is transient by nature and therefore in a few years time when you are enjoying yourself secure in the knowledge that your career is (relatively) secure, the "builders" may be working in less amenable surroundings for a less than attractive renumeration.

;)