Ferrybridge construction staff walk out in toilet roll row
Ferrybridge builders end toilet row strike
(about 3 hours 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.
Builders at a £300m multi-fuel facility near a West Yorkshire power station have ended a strike sparked by 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 staged an unofficial walk out at Ferrybridge, near Castleford, amid claims facilities were 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 Unite union said the issue was raised with management at Hitachi Zosen Inova a year ago but nothing was done.
The company said it is working to resolve the problem.
The company has now agreed to provide more toilets and a cleaner.
It said staff will return to work on Wednesday and wages will not be docked.
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 over claims there were eight toilets for 650 construction workers.
The union claims there are eight toilets for 650 construction workers.
About 100 workers picketed the gates earlier demanding more facilities and cleaning staff.
Union member Peter Beaumont said: "When you need to go to the toilet you don't have time to start balloting the members.
Union member Peter Beaumont said: "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.
'Pulled their socks up'
A spokesman said: "HZI are working with representatives from the workforce to resolve the issues raised."
Workers met managers and were promised more toilets and full-time cleaners.
'Urgent need'
Senior steward Tony Duckitt said: "All of us feel it's a fair deal. They've pulled their socks up. It's going to be spick and span.
Mr Beaumont said the dispute stemmed from complaints about the cleanliness of toilets at the weekend.
"There's people working on these toilets all day and more coming on site as well. They've got their act together."
He said improvements would have to be made before employees would go back to work.
The new facility, Multifuel Energy Ltd, is a joint venture between a waste management company and SSE, which owns the nearby Ferrybridge Power Station.
"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 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."
About a dozen officers from West Yorkshire Police are at the site ensuring the strike remains peaceful.
