The latest update concerning the Building Engineering Services National Agreement (BESNA) is that 88 per cent of those workers who were asked to sign and return their contracts have done so.
The Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association (HVCA) said these employees had signed up 'despite Unite the Union's campaign of scare tactics and misinformation'.

The employees were given BESNA contracts by seven leading construction companies, who are introducing the new agreement with the HVCA.

Blane Judd, HVCA's chief executive, commented: 'The companies have always communicated the facts about BESNA to their employees and it's good to see that this information has been so well received.

'We hope that Unite will also now acknowledge the facts, cease making false claims about pay cuts and deskilling and stop threatening unjustified industrial action.'

BESNA is claimed to aim to benefit employers and employees in several ways, including:
- Pay parity across all trade disciplines resulting in increases for nearly a third of workers.
- Safeguarding of jobs.
- Broader training opportunities for apprentices.
- Upskilling opportunities for many employees.
- Increased on-site efficiency and business competitiveness.

The seven companies working with HVCA to introduce BESNA are Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, Crown House Technologies, Gratte Brothers, NG Bailey, Shepherd Engineering Services, SPIE Matthew Hall and T Clarke.

Workers who have still not signed and returned their contracts are being contacted by their employer to discuss any concerns that they may have.

The BESNA terms and conditions will come into effect during the last week in March and the first week of April 2012.

For more information about BESNA, please visit www.besna.info