HUNDREDS of Hinkley Point C workers involved in unofficial industrial action will need to attend off-site discussions with managers and reaffirm their commitment to an agreement setting out how disputes should be settled before they will be allowed back to work.

EDF expects a staggered return to work on the nuclear power station site by the MEH Alliance workers will start on Monday (June 15), with wages docked for part of their absence.

A large early morning police presence was needed at the Hinkley C site as tempers flared last week while workers were locked out of the site following their industrial action.

The dispute arose after claims a dangerous crane lift on the construction site had put workers at risk.

MEH Alliance workers, who are delivering Hinkley C’s mechanical, electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installations, staged protest sit-downs in canteens.

The site’s management then withdrew access rights for the workers ‘to avoid any further disruption, limit impacts to other HPC team members, and allow time for discussions’.

The workers were told they would not be allowed back on site for some time and would not be paid during their absence.

MEH Alliance workers also had concerns about clocking in arrangements and proposed changes to their shift patterns which they had voted against.

But EDF said a condition of allowing workers to return was their agreement to the new shift pattern due to start next month.

A spokesperson said the disputed crane lift had been investigated and there had not been any risk to workers.

The spokesperson said trade unions had ‘well established’ procedures for resolving workers’ concerns and talks were being held to encourage them to return to work.

They said: “Other construction workers are continuing to work as normal across the site.”

Union officials said any unfair wage deductions would be challenged.