Striking crane drivers to target Spurs stadium site

Work could be disrupted at Tottenham Hotspur’s new £800m stadium site next week.

Tower crane drivers at HTC Wolffkran have confirmed their first strike date as September 9 following a long-running pay row.

Site sources confirmed to the Enquirer that high profile jobs will be targeted by pickets when the strike action starts.

One worker said: “We’ll focus on the jobs where we can make most impact and Spurs stadium is right up there in terms of profile.”

Drivers from HTC Wolffkran will stop work across the country for 24 hours hitting scores of sites reliant on tower cranes.

Unite members voted for strike action after the company refused to continue negotiations and imposed a two year deal on the workers of a 3% pay increase in both years and increasing annual leave to the standard industry level.

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain said: “Despite seeking fresh talks to avoid strike action, we have been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement and therefore have no option but to take strike action.

“Our members are simply not in a position to meekly accept an imposed pay increase, which is a pay cut in real terms compared to the current rate of RPI.

“This so called increase is in effect a substantial reduction when compared to the increases that workers are receiving in the industry.

“It in inevitable that strike action will cause widespread disruption on sites throughout the UK.

“Even at this late stage Unite is entirely open to holding further talks and to explore ways in which industrial action can still be avoided.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/08/29/striking-crane-drivers-to-target-spurs-stadium-site/

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