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Over 300 scaffolders working at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station have initiated unofficial strike action, voicing their concerns about pay rates and shift patterns at the site.
According to Construction Enquirer, the workers, employed by BYLOR, a joint venture between Bouygues TP and Laing O’Rourke, began their protest on Wednesday and are now planning to take one day a week off work as a form of unofficial strike.
Tensions have been escalating on-site for some time, with workers expressing dissatisfaction over their current compensation package.
One worker, speaking to the Construction Enquirer, said, “We have been wanting the mechanical rate, our travel pay is way below what the MEH Alliance get. This week we just made a stand, it’s not a happy camp here.”
This recent unrest comes on the heels of last week’s walkout by around 125 mechanical and electrical workers under the MEH Alliance. The catalyst for this walkout was an employer’s decision to slash travel allowances by 50%.
The MEH Alliance consists of Altrad, Balfour Beatty Bailey, Cavendish Nuclear, and Doosan Babcock.
In response to the workers’ actions, it is understood that the MEH Alliance contractors have agreed to restore travel allowances to their original level. However, it remains unclear whether this action will serve to quell the growing discontent among the BYLOR-employed scaffolders at Hinkley Point.
As one of the largest construction projects in Europe, any disruptions at Hinkley Point could have far-reaching implications for the broader UK energy sector.
