Engineering and construction workers have agreed to a 7.7%, three-year pay deal between 2013 and 2015, according to the Unite union.

The agreement will apply to 50,000 construction workers and covers major construction projects across the UK in oil and gas, petro-chemical and energy.

It includes 10-day bereavement leave and new terms on redundancy, travel and lodging allowances.

It also includes an agreement between workers and the union to set up a working party to look at improving sick pay.

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Bernard McAulay, Unite national officer for construction, said: "The energy bill is a reminder of the massive contribution construction workers will play in delivering a low carbon energy infrastructure which is fit for purpose.

"The construction industry faces challenging times but after detailed and intense negotiations we have reached a deal which improves pay for construction workers and gives the industry confidence and stability for the next three years."

Unite is signed up to The National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), which has been in force since 1981.

It sets out the terms and conditions of employment for engineering construction workers.

Unite is the biggest engineering and construction union.

(IT)