A series of protests are taking place across three energy-from-waste (EfW) power station sites in Scotland, Wales And Yorkshire.

Members of union GMB began staging industrial action at 6:30am today, 07 April after accusing construction companies of undercutting pay at the sites.

The organisation said members are rallying against a 'lack of job opportunities' for local workers and the 'exploitation of non-UK workers' by construction firms Interserve and Babcock & Wilcox Volund (BWV).

Skilled workers at the sites are being paid around £7 per hour. However, BWV has refused to follow the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI) which states the agreed rate for skilled workers is £16.64.

The NAECI covers infrastructure such as power stations, oil refineries and transport installations.

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Phil Whitehurst, GMB national officer for engineering construction, said members are being "debarred from employment" on EfW facilities being developed in the UK.

"Unscrupulous construction companies using spurious umbrella companies exploit non UK workers at rates of pay as low as £7 per hour rather than paying £16.64 per hour which is the applicable rate through direct employment and utilising UK collective agreements," he said.

"This undercutting effectively disadvantages UK construction workers and subsequently GMB members."

"As things stand we have a total one way street where undercutting of pay is happening on an industrial scale right across the UK. This cannot be allowed to continue."

Bob McNeill, GMB Regional organiser, said: "Interserve and Babcock Wilcox VØlund are undermining our agreement by exploiting non UK workers and paying inferior terms and conditions. This is nothing other than social dumping."

Gary Cook, GMB Officer for Engineering workers in Scotland, added: "This is yet another glaring example of a missed opportunity to protect what little construction work Scotland has. The government should be sending a message out loud and clear: Scotland is a no go area for exploitation and social dumping and it will not be tolerated at the cost to our skilled workers and young people desperate to get a craft apprenticeship."

The protests will continue all day at the following sites:

• Margam site, off Margam road, Heol Cae'r Bont.

• Dunbar landfill, Oxwellmains, Dunbar.

• Templeborough site, Firth Rixon site Sheffield Road, Rotherham.

(LM)