STRIKING Hinkley Point C nuclear power station construction site workers were due to return to work on Thursday (July 17) after a supervisor alleged to have bullied staff was moved.

An unofficial strike began a week ago with an unconfirmed number of workers in the MEH group of contractors walking out in response to the alleged bullying.

One person involved in the ‘wildcat’ action told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “This bullying has been going on for far too long.”

The supervisor alleged to have been behind the bullying is understood to have been removed from site, with the allegations still to be investigated.

A Hinkley C spokesperson said: “We are pleased this unofficial action has ended and an appropriate, independent, process to investigate and resolve grievances will be followed.”

On Wednesday, MEH staff were still picketing the site and a video seen by the LDRS showed a large group of people stood outside turnstiles at the Hinkley C bus station, while one man was blocked from passing through.

One worker for a different company not part of the strike said workers trying to enter the site were called ‘scabs’ and ‘snakes’ and were blocked from entering.

They said: “Some managed to push through, myself being one of them.

“It was absolute chaos with hundreds of people congregated near the gates and bus terminal.”

One striker said last week that 3,000 to 4,000 people had walked out.

But a source closer to management said there were fewer than 2,000 MEH staff involved and most had still been working.

The walkout happened without the backing of the trade union Unite, with workers said to be ‘furious’ it was not supporting them.

The union said at the time staff had taken part in a protest over ‘management practices’ and it expected a resolution ‘soon’.