DELAYS to the construction of the Hinkley Point nuclear power station could be on the cards if a dispute over bonus payments flares up into industrial action, the unions have warned.
Next week (May 2 to 5), Unite and the GMB will be holding a consultative ballot of the 700-strong workforce preparing the groundworks at the site.
The unions claim that the dispute centres on the failure of the BYLOR consortium, made up of the French company Bouygues TP and Laing O’Rourke, to pay the bonus rate in line with the spirit of HPC Civil Construction agreement. The other employer, Keir Bam, is currently not at the negotiating table.
The unions argue that the bonus rate offered by BYLOR is insufficient to attract the quality of workers needed to ensure that that the civil works phase of the £18 billion project is completed on time.
Unite regional officer Tim Morris said: “This poor offer is unacceptable under all of the circumstances and our members came to Hinkley Point under the belief that they would receive excellent pay and bonuses.
“The employers think they can do this ‘on the cheap’ by offering a derisory bonus rate, but the workers consider it to be completely inadequate to attract and hold onto the skilled workforce necessary.”
GMB regional officer Adie Baker said: “GMB members are not prepared to accept this derisory offer on bonus payments that also threatens health and safety standards on site.”