The Heathrow Terminal 5 scheme is set to be hit by walkouts next week after steelworkers voted in favour of striking over pay.

In a ballot of more than 100 members of Amicus, 90% voted in favour of the action to obtain a 拢1/hour bonus to match the conditions obtained by T5 electricians under the Major Projects Agreement. This has sparked fears that more than 1000 Amicus electricians will refuse to cross picket lines.

The steelworkers are expected to start taking action in the early part of next week unless client BAA and the contractors concede ground. Amicus says it has agreed to meet publicly-funded dispute resolution body Acas with the employers, but will not withdraw the planned strike action. The contractors affected are Watsons, Fasttrack, Merseyside Coatings, Steel Erection Services and SEW.

Frank Westerman, Amicus national construction officer, said: 鈥淭he employers have asked us to meet Acas, but we won鈥檛 call off the action. Talks so far have got us nowhere.鈥�

We won鈥檛 call off the action at Heathrow Terminal 5. Talks so far have got us nowhere

Frank Westerman, Amicus national officer

Westerman has been called to a meeting of shop stewards amid fears that other Amicus members on the site, including the 1300 electricians under the Major Projects Agreement, will refuse to cross the picket line. The electricians obtained a 拢1/hour bonus earlier this year in a move widely seen as an unofficial travelling allowance.

A BAA spokesperson said: 鈥淎s the current claim by Amicus for steelworkers is outside their agreement [the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry], we do not have access to a dispute resolution process by which to proceed.鈥�