M25 strikes: Road workers with Unite balloted on industrial action

Motorists could face additional M25 travel disruption with maintenance workers voting on whether to strike over pay.

About 150 Balfour Beatty employees are being balloted on industrial action, the union Unite said on Monday (February 19).

The union says workers are angry at Balfour Beatty’s offer of a 3.4% pay increase. It says with the Retail Price Index (RPI) at 4.9% this is a real terms pay cut - and that workers also received a below inflation pay rise last year.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Balfour Beatty is an immensely profitable company that can afford to put forward an offer that reflects rising living costs. Its M25 workers have Unite’s total backing in demanding a fair pay rise.”

The union highlighted that Balfour Beatty’s latest financial report said the company brought in revenues of £4.5 billion during the first half of 2023, with underlying profits increasing by 12% to £95 million.

The ballot opens this week and the vote will close on March 12, with industrial action "expected soon after".

Unite regional officer Phil Silkstone said: “Balfour Beatty can stop this dispute escalating and causing disruption to the smooth running of the M25 by tabling an acceptable offer. It has more than enough profits to do that.”

A Balfour Beatty spokesperson said: “We continue to work closely with Unite the Union to reach an appropriate outcome.

“As these discussions remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”