Viridor has been threatened with legal action by Unite after engineering and construction workers were locked out of a waste power plant site in Glasgow.

The company had previously been appointed by the city council to build a new Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre in Polmadie. Subsequently, Interserve was sub-contracted to deliver construction work on the scheme.

However, due to a series of issues and delays, Interserve was taken off the project last month. As a result, the contractor has informed workers they will be let go and paid off. It is understood up to 150 workers are affected.

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With Viridor still to announce who their new preferred contractor is, Unite said the employees are protected by Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations (TUPE).

The organisation understands around 100 scaffolders have been told by Interserve that they will be kept on for 20 days. Another 60 workers involved in thermal insulation and mechanical and electrical work have been locked off the site and given a week's notice.

Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: "As far as we're concerned, our members are protected by TUPE regulations. Any employer trying to breach our members' rights will leave themselves open to possible legal action.

"Viridor is getting paid out of public money.  It is their inaction that has put our members in this situation. That is completely unacceptable.

"We urge Viridor to urgently act to sort this situation out and we are calling on Glasgow City Council to help. We are consulting with our lawyers and will do everything in our power to ensure that our members on this publicly-funded project are treated with dignity and respect – and that their legal rights are respected."

(LM/MH)