Construction union UCATT are warning up to 500,000 construction workers to be aware that many employers are trying to deny them their full holiday entitlement.

The workers concerned are employed under the terms of the Construction Industry Joint Council, Working Rule Agreement. In February 2011 unions led by UCATT and construction employers agreed that the CIJC WRA would honour the Royal Wedding Bank Holiday (April 29) and workers would be entitled to a paid day off on that date.

However, UCATT has discovered that some employers are trying to avoid paying workers an extra days paid holiday. In particular, some employers are intending to introduce a shutdown in the week beginning Easter Monday (April 25), in the belief that they will avoid paying workers for an additional days holiday.


This is not the case and the agreement makes it entirely clear that in such circumstances, workers will be entitled to an additional days paid holiday on an alternative date.

George Guy, UCATT Acting General Secretary, said: "It is very disappointing that employers are still trying to wheedle their way out of paying for one additional days bank holiday. Dedicated construction workers have been through very difficult times in recent years as a result of the recession. The very least they deserve is for employers to honour this holiday."

It is understood that the possibility of employers trying to avoid paying the additional day for the Royal Wedding Bank Holiday is most acute in Scotland where construction employers are reluctant to honour the agreement regarding the additional days leave.

Harry Frew, Regional Secretary for UCATT Scotland, said: "Companies need to honour the decision to make the Royal Wedding a paid bank holiday. If employers try to prevent UCATT members receiving this extra day, we will take all means necessary to secure them their full leave."

Despite the Government announcing that the Royal Wedding would be an additional bank holiday, they did not increase the holiday entitlement under the working time directive accordingly. Therefore only workers, whose contracts specify they receive all bank holidays as paid leave, automatically receive an extra day's holiday. For all other workers agreement has had to be reached to secure an additional days paid leave.

(CD/KMcA)