GMB TALKS IN LONDON TO FINALISE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT TO COVER NEW HINKLEY POINT C NUCLEAR PLANT CONSTRUCTION

Phil Black - PII Editor 17/10/2013

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Agreements are ground breaking not only in the increased levels of pay but the social covenant agreed for the working relationship between the trade unions, the client, and their sub-contractors says GMB

GMB, the union for construction workers, is in talks tomorrow 17th October on a new agreement to cover the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

Phil Whitehurst, GMB National Officer for Construction, said “Negotiations on the new Engineering Construction agreement to cover the construction of Hinkley Point C are near conclusion. The next and final meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (17th Oct).

Even though the Government has been deadlocked with EDF over the “strike price”, GMB along with other unions have been sensibly negotiating with EDF a “Best in Class” working agreements for the construction of Hinkley Point C. If the “Best in Class” for engineering construction is agreed in principle tomorrow then GMB and Unite will submit the finalised agreement to their Engineering Construction sector shop stewards for acceptance with the membership. The “Best in Class” civil construction agreement is already agreed and signed off. See notes to editors for details of GMB press release of 5th June 2013.

These agreements are ground breaking not only in the increased levels of pay compared to other agreements, but the social covenant agreed for the working relationship between the trade unions, the client, and their sub-contractors. This social covenant is a good foundation stone for harmonious working relationships.

GMB welcome EDF”s intentions to buy into the need for investment, not only in the present workforce with up-skilling, but in apprentices to replace our already ageing workforce. This is very refreshing, a far better result than the dark years of lack of investment by recent generations of governments and employers.”

Contact: Phil Whitehurst 07968 338810 or GMB press office 07974 251 823 or 07921 289880

GMB press release 5th June 2013

GMB SIGN GROUND BREAKING AGREEMENT TO BUILD NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATION AT HINKLEY POINT

5,000 workers will be directly employed, well rewarded, and treated with respect and dignity under the new agreement says GMB

GMB the union for construction workers, have signed a ground breaking industrial relations agreement with EDF Energy to build the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

The project will be the largest single site construction project in Britain with 5,000 workers employed at the peak of construction.

After months of negotiating, unions GMB, UCATT, and Unite have secured agreement with the client EDF Energy and the principal contractors Bouygues Laing O’Rourke for a Common Framework Agreement which addresses how industrial relations will be managed and a Civil Engineering Sector Agreement.

The Common Framework Agreement establishes how industrial relations will be managed on the project and guarantees that the signatory unions will be provided with the necessary facilities to ensure workers are treated fairly.

The Civil Engineering Sector Agreement establishes pay rates for the workforce which are significantly above those agreed by the Construction Industry Joint Council. By the time work begins, which is expected to be in 2014, the craft rate will be at least £13 an hour.

The agreement also sets out provision for a bonus scheme, a productivity scheme and milestone payments, which has laid the foundations for the best paid construction project the industry has seen.

In another first the agreement establishes clear rules to ensure that workers will make and receive significant pension payments while working on the project. Pension payments will begin at £10 per week of matched funding between employers and employees. By January 2017 workers will see an amount equal to 10% of their pay being placed in their pensions, through 5% matched funding from employees and employers.

Phil Whitehurst, GMB Construction Officer, said: “The two agreements signed by all three Unions involved will ensure that workers building the first in a new generation of nuclear power stations.

They will be directly employed, well rewarded, and treated with respect and dignity supported by the Trade Unions under the structures negotiated over the past twelve months or so with EDF.

In an important step to combat casualisation and poor productivity the site will only directly employ workers through PAYE. For the first time in such an agreement there will also be strict rules placed on the recruitment of workers through employment agencies. A top of the range occupational health scheme will be established to help ensure the short-term and long-term health of the construction workforce.

The agreement also makes clear that the training of traditional apprenticeships and adult trainees will be a priority. A target of training at least 500 apprentices and adult trainees during the lifetime of the project has been set.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: “This ground breaking agreement will ensure that workers building Hinckley Point will receive excellent rates of pay and first class conditions. This agreement will act as the blueprint for all future major construction projects.”

Kevin Coyne, Unite National Officer for Energy and Utilities, said: “A new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point will be a significant milestone towards meeting Britain”s low carbon energy needs. We”re pleased that progress towards a greener future is also characterised by good pay and conditions for thousands of highly skilled workers. The agreement reached between the unions and employers is the result of intense but constructive negotiations.

“This agreement sends a clear message to the rest of the construction industry that good productive relationships can deliver positive results. The unions and employers have made real progress in laying the right foundations for this important project. It is now time for the government to stop delaying and give EDF the certainty it needs so the company can get on with the job of meeting the UK”s energy needs.”