New wage agreement from 2026 to 2028

July 2, 2025

During the past six months, the JIB has facilitated discussions between the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), SELECT and Unite the Union to agree on a new wage agreement from 2026 to 2028 for the electrical contracting industry. This has now been approved by ECA and Unite, via the JIB National Board, to be implemented from Monday 5 January 2026.

Some of the key changes to be implemented include:

Year One – from 5 January 2026

3.95% increase to rates for graded operatives.

Year Two – from 4 January 2027

2% increase to apprentice rates.
4.6% increase to graded operative rates.

Year Three – from 3 January 2028

3% increase to apprentice rates.
4.85% increase to graded operative rates.
£10 increase to weekly sick pay for operatives during weeks 3-24 therefore providing:
– £200 per week for an electrician.
– £210 per week for an approved electrician.
– £220 per week for a technician.
– £190 per week for others as defined in clause 1.3 note(a) of Section 9 of the JIB Handbook.
£5 increase to weekly sick pay for operatives during weeks 25 to 52.

Note: Weekly sick pay is in addition to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

The JIB has published full details of the agreement here.

jib.org.uk