Construction unions are protesting at Leeds Civic Hall to ensure ‘rate for job’ on a new waste-to-energy plant project at Skelton Grange
More than 500 construction workers will be employed on a new £250 million waste-to-energy plant at Skelton Grange, which will provide power for 100,000 homes.
It is being built for Enfinium by principal contractor Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), who have stated that they do not intend to use the National Agreement for the Engineering Industry (NAECI) agreement.
Fears that rate for the job will not be honoured
Leeds City Council granted planning permission for the project but has not stipulated that it should be built using the NAECI.
Workers fear that unless Leeds City Council ensures that the NAECI agreement is utilised, undercutting will be a problem and the rate for the job will not be honoured.
Local labour may not be employed
Alongside pay rates, construction unions are concerned that workers will not benefit from enhanced overtime rates, mileage and lodging allowances. There are also fears that local labour will not be employed on the site, nor local skills training provided.
As a result, workers will be protesting on Wednesday 24th March 2022, 11:30-14:00 at Leeds Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 1UR. The protesting workers are members of GMB and Unite.
GMB and Unite will hold clients and contractors to account
Charlotte Childs, GMB national officer, said: “GMB members and the national agreement have served the construction industry well.
“Union jobs are safer, better paid and the buildings well built. It makes sense to adopt the national agreement to get this project built.
“GMB will hold to account any client or contractor who tries to circumnavigate the hard-fought rights our members have won.
“HZI needs to get round the table with GMB and Unite to bring this project under the agreement.”
Sharon Graham, unite general secretary, said: “Leeds council and its councillors have to step up to the plate and tell HZI in no uncertain terms that it must play by the rules and follow the NAECI agreement.
“Unite will be giving its members full support in ensuring that the rate for the job is paid on this project.”
