Taylor Wimpey has asked around 50 joiners and scaffolders in North East England to sign new contracts on reduced terms after a regular pay audit found they were earning nearly 25% more than comparable roles, according to a report on the dispute.
The higher earnings were mainly the result of larger bonuses, the report said. The housebuilder identified the discrepancy during routine audits of directly employed workers.
The proposed changes have drawn opposition from Unite. 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, press the company for information it is entitled to and examine all avenues to fight the change, including industrial action.
Taylor Wimpey said the issue emerged from a regular benchmarking exercise. It said the review identified a small number of direct labour roles where current terms and conditions were significantly ahead of comparable rates and required review.
The company said the consultation process had been concluded fairly and openly and that ACAS had been consulted. A grievance has been raised in line with the Construction Joint Industry Council Working Rule Agreement, it added.
Taylor Wimpey said it was committed to engaging fully with employees before a final resolution and that a number of potential outcomes were still being considered. It also said it was committed to ensuring all employees were treated fairly and consistently across the business and throughout the process.