Scaffolders march in second week of all-out strikes

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Around 60 scaffolders based on British Steel in Scunthorpe held a march on Monday demanding fair pay for the work as their long-running dispute continues.

The scaffolders employed by Actavo held the early morning march around the British Steel Scunthorpe site on Monday (11 October). The workers went from the site main gate and picket line to the administration offices and then into Scunthorpe town centre.

As previously reported the scaffolders who began an all-out strike over a week ago are in dispute with bosses over pay.

The workers want to be paid in line with the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). The rates for the workforce are currently 10 to 15 per cent below these rates, according to UNITE the union.

The row began back in 2019 when their former employers Brand Energy had the maintenance contract on the site. Actavo took over the contract in February 2021 but the dispute continues.

Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party said: “So far the bosses haven’t shifted because they know that hundreds of other trades and contractors on site are paid less than the Blue Book rates, and a victory for the scaffolders would breach the dam to a flood of claims.

But the strikers are determined and confident, as many of the inspection tags on their scaffolding are starting to expire, and most other firms’ scaffolders are not crossing the picket lines or won’t do Actavo work.”

It’s understood the workers are set to hold further protests in a bid to win the dispute with their employers.

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