Engineering construction workers reject offer on pay and conditions at UK power stations

Oct 6 2009 by Graeme Brown, Birmingham Post

Thousands of engineering construction workers have rejected an offer on pay and conditions aimed at resolving a row at UK power stations and other sites.

Up to 30,000 workers were balloted under moves to end the dispute, which sparked walkouts this year. Workers at sites including BP FPS Grangemouth and Ineos Grangemouth in Scotland, Sellafield in Cumbria, Shell UK Stanlow, Staythorpe RWE in Nottinghamshire, Chevron Pembroke and Aberthaw in Wales took part in the ballot.

The dispute flared at the Lindsey oil terminal in North Lincolnshire, amid claims that local workers were being denied jobs, and spread to other sites.

Phil Davies, national officer at the GMB union, said workers wanted more progress on setting up a skills and unemployment register and moves to stop employers under-cutting agreed rates and terms and conditions. The offer of working parties on the registers was seen as jam tomorrow and members no longer trusted the employers to deliver.

Unite’s assistant general secretary, Les Bayliss, said: “Recent events at engineering construction sites at Lindsey, Staythorpe and Uskmouth have infuriated construction workers and, as a result, our members in the industry have rejected the employers’ latest offer.”

The Engineering Construction Industry Association said in a statement: “We are surprised and disappointed at the vote, given the trade unions recommended their members accept it. The engineering construction industry in this country is going through a tough time. The number of major construction projects this year nearly halved.”