BRITAIN’S construction industry faces an “autumn of anarchy” unless crane operator Ainscough offers its workers a decent pay rise, Unite warned today.

The union is preparing to ballot more than 400 members at the mobile crane company after eight months of negotiations have resulted in Ainscough offering most workers a pay cut.

While basic rates would rise by 4.5 per cent, enhanced rates for doing more than 50 hours, which is standard, would be significantly reduced.

Further talks have been scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week and Unite will immediately move to a strike ballot if no breakthrough is made.

Unite national officer for construction Bernard McAulay said: “The construction industry need to start making plans for an autumn of anarchy if Ainscough don’t make a substantially improved pay offer.

“The protracted pay talks have been like pulling teeth and the latest offer by Ainscough is entirely unacceptable to our members.”