This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-18409742#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Power station walkout in Runcorn in row over local jobs | Power station walkout in Runcorn in row over local jobs |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Hundreds of workers at a power station construction site in Runcorn have walked out in a row over local jobs. | |
The GMB union said a firm involved in building a thermal power station at the Ineos Chlor chemical plant had broken an agreement over local recruitment. | |
The walkout followed a protest by about 30 people who claimed too many men were being employed from outside Cheshire and Merseyside. | |
Talks between the firm involved, Kaefer C & D Ltd, and the GMB are ongoing. | |
The company is one of several contracted to work on the power plant by project leaders Keppel Seghers. | |
The GMB said it was the only one which had broken the agreement to hire local labour first. | |
Kaefer C & D Ltd declined to comment. | |
'More balanced' | 'More balanced' |
A spokesperson for Keppel Seghers said: "We confirm that a contractor of the energy-from-waste combined heat and power plant project Kaefer C & D Ltd and union officials are holding discussions regarding the industrial action, in which about 400 workers participated. | |
"We are helping to facilitate the talks between the relevant parties for them to come to an amicable resolution soon." | |
James Farnworth, who works on the site, said: "These men have the total sympathy of all the workers here. | |
"I think it's a very unfortunate situation, one we would normally try to avoid, but these guys felt they had no option but to make their feelings known. | "I think it's a very unfortunate situation, one we would normally try to avoid, but these guys felt they had no option but to make their feelings known. |
"It's an easy one to resolve - get the workforce more balanced in favour of local men." | "It's an easy one to resolve - get the workforce more balanced in favour of local men." |
The power station will be used to turn non-recyclable waste into energy. | |
Ineos Chlor is a chemical producer and a PVC manufacturer. | |