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| Ferrybridge construction staff walk out in toilet roll row | Ferrybridge construction staff walk out in toilet roll row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 100 construction staff building a £300m multi-fuel facility near a West Yorkshire power station have walked out in a row over toilets. | More than 100 construction staff building a £300m multi-fuel facility near a West Yorkshire power station have walked out in a row over toilets. |
| Union members are staging an unofficial strike at Ferrybridge, near Castleford, amid claims that facilities are dirty, blocked and without toilet paper. | Union members are staging an unofficial strike at Ferrybridge, near Castleford, amid claims that facilities are dirty, blocked and without toilet paper. |
| The Unite union said the issue was raised with management, Hitachi Zosen Inova, a year ago but nothing was done. | |
| The company said it is working to resolve the problem. | |
| Clean hands | Clean hands |
| The wildcat strike was called last night and about 100 workers picketed outside the gates earlier. BBC Radio Leeds said a meeting with management would take place later. | The wildcat strike was called last night and about 100 workers picketed outside the gates earlier. BBC Radio Leeds said a meeting with management would take place later. |
| The union claims there are eight toilets for 650 construction workers. | The union claims there are eight toilets for 650 construction workers. |
| Union member Peter Beaumont said: "When you need to go to the toilet you don't have time to start balloting the members. | |
| "When you've got 100 men who need to clean their hands before dinner it's quite an important thing. | "When you've got 100 men who need to clean their hands before dinner it's quite an important thing. |
| "We needed to withdraw our labour." | "We needed to withdraw our labour." |
| Hitachi said it was aware of the concerns raised by staff. | |
| A spokesman said: "HZI are working with representatives from the workforce to resolve the issues raised." | |
| 'Urgent need' | 'Urgent need' |
| Mr Beaumont said the dispute stemmed from complaints about the cleanliness of toilets at the weekend. | Mr Beaumont said the dispute stemmed from complaints about the cleanliness of toilets at the weekend. |
| He said improvements would have to be made before employees would go back to work. | He said improvements would have to be made before employees would go back to work. |
| "There just comes a time when you've got to do something about it," he said. | "There just comes a time when you've got to do something about it," he said. |
| "We urgently need new toilet blocks, we urgently need the toilets to be maintained regularly over the weekends. | "We urgently need new toilet blocks, we urgently need the toilets to be maintained regularly over the weekends. |
| "We need permanent staff on them and that's the sort of thing it will take to get the lads back to work." | "We need permanent staff on them and that's the sort of thing it will take to get the lads back to work." |
| The facility, Multifuel Energy Ltd, is a joint venture between SSE and waste management company Wheelabrator Technologies. | |
| SSE, which owns nearby Ferrybridge Power Station, said: "Ferrybridge multi-fuel facility is currently under construction nearby. | |
| "Any contractor issues would be a matter for the principal contractor - Hitachi Zosen Inova." | "Any contractor issues would be a matter for the principal contractor - Hitachi Zosen Inova." |
| About a dozen officers from West Yorkshire Police are at the site ensuring the strike remains peaceful. | About a dozen officers from West Yorkshire Police are at the site ensuring the strike remains peaceful. |