Pay cuts taken to save construction jobs

24/10/2008

Construction workers have agreed to take a pay cut in order to reduce the number of people who will lose their jobs.

Employees at construction equipment manufacturer JCB will have their pay reduced by £50 a week and will only work for four out of seven days.

The decision will mean around 350 jobs will be saved, according to the workers' union GMB.

Keith Hodgkinson, GMB officer, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to save 350 jobs. The vote shows the social solidarity of trade union members in action.

"The short time is part of a worsening recession and these GMB members expect the government and the Bank of England to take the necessary steps to begin large-scale public works to at least slow the recession down and prevent it getting too deep."

Meanwhile, more construction jobs are expected to open up in Bristol once work on the city's airport begins.

Yesterday, the first images of what Bristol International Airport will look like once the development gets underway have been revealed.

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