Pay offer is rejected

Oct 6 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THOUSANDS of engineering construction workers have rejected an offer on pay and conditions aimed at resolving a long-running row at power stations and other sites across the UK.

Up to 30,000 workers were balloted under moves to end the dispute, which sparked a series of walkouts earlier this year.

Workers at sites including BP FPS Grangemouth and Ineos Grangemouth in Scotland, Sellafield in Cumbria, Shell UK Stanlow, Staythorpe RWE in Nottinghamshire, Chevron Pembroke and Aberthaw in Wales took part in the ballot.

The dispute flared at the Lindsey oil terminal in North Lincolnshire amid claims that local workers were being denied jobs.

Phil Davies, national officer at the GMB union, said workers wanted more progress on setting up a skills and unemployment register and moves to stop employers undercutting the agreed rates and terms and conditions.

“The employers’ offer of working parties on the registers is seen as jam tomorrow and the members no longer trust the employers to deliver.

“The members want the package to be completed now so that they can see what they are getting. The next step is to go back to the employers to see if they are up for further talks.”