Interserve workers on a waste-to-energy plant in Glasgow have walked out after a pay parity dispute.
Around 70 scaffolders and labourers who work for Interserve Industrial Service at the Glasgow Recycling & Renewable Energy Centre began a two-day strike today due to the long-running disagreement.
According to union Unite, the crux of the dispute is that when construction work started at the site in Glasgow about 18 months ago, the scaffolders and labourers were employed on CIJC nationally agreed pay rates – which are now below the rates enjoyed by workers subsequently employed under the NAECI national agreement or greater.
As well as today’s strike there are plans to hold a 48-hour strike on 3 May.
“Interserve employed the workers going on strike on the CIJC rate. But it is paying new workers on the site at the higher nationally NAECI agreed rate or greater. They have had to employ people from across Scotland and even from outside Scotland, so they have had to pay more to attract the travelling workforce.”
Stephen Deans, Unite
An Interserve spokesperson expressed their concern, stating: “In respect of the Glasgow Recycling & Renewable Energy Centre, we are disappointed that industrial action has been called.
“This is a multi-contractor site where employees are paid the appropriate rates for the associated trades and Interserve is aligned with this policy.”
Unite regional officer Stephen Deans said: “This dispute has been running since last June. What appears to have happened is that Interserve employed the workers going on strike on the CIJC rate.
“But the firm and their subcontractors are paying new workers on the site at the higher nationally NAECI agreed rate or greater. They have had to employ people from across Scotland and even from outside Scotland, so they have had to pay more to attract the travelling workforce.
“What we are calling for is pay parity for all workers on the site that has a workforce of between 300 to 400 workers. This could mean an uplift of between £4 and £5 an hour for our members, depending on their jobs.”
