Skip to content or view screen version

Failure to support Strike Action at Hunterston Nuclear Power Station.

Dismayed | 11.09.2006 17:09 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements

British Energy staff at Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station threatened with dismissal if they show support (refuse to cross picket lines) for official strike action by Balfour Kilpatrick electricians.
Sept 12th / 13th 2006

Workers at Hunterston Nuclear Power station have been told by British Energy management, that the official strike action planned by contract electricians Balfour Kilpatrick, "does not concern them", and that, "any employee that does not report for work (refuses to cross the picket line), will face diciplinary action".
BK are scrapping a 30 year old 'Nuclear Site' agreement that enhances the workers' wage by 50p/hour.

Dismayed
- e-mail: juniorsacat@aol.com

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

information from the picket

13.09.2006 15:34

firstly thanx to all who wouldnt cross and to those who did we understand the pressure put on the workforce from british energy who say it dosent concern them
just wanted to add a we fact that was given to me as i spoke to the people in the que,s this morning balfour kilpatrick are still charging british enery the same for our labour although they pay us 50p less per hour so it isnt just the BK workforce that are getting shafted.

amicus member
mail e-mail: hubbyshouse@hotmail.co.uk


update on hunterston dispute

14.09.2006 18:42

Following the 2 day strike Balfour Kilpatrick remain adamant that they won’t return the 50p enhancement

British Nuclear Group ban overtime for contractors who refused to cross the picket

British Energy seeks an injunction to stop the planned strike action from being held on the public access road to the 2 power stations.

An insider from British energy confirmed that the disruption caused by the official strike action on Tues 12th and Wed 13th September has cost them £1.5 million in revenue.

The dispute continues with further strike action planned for Tue 19th and wed 20th September

amicus member
mail e-mail: hubbyshouse@hotmail.co.uk


Hunterston Nuclear Power Station Dirty Tricks

18.09.2006 16:53

British Energy and British Nuclear Group who say they wont get involved in the dispute between Amicus and Balfour Kilpatrick
Warn all employees and contractors not to stop and talk to the official Amicus picket
An insider warned the Balfour Kilpatrick men that the Amec roads department will be errecting fencing tonight to restrict the official picket planned for tomorrow tue 19 from going ahead
when will the Amicus shop within british energy say enough is enough and support their fellow workers

amicus member
mail e-mail: hubbyshouse@hotmail.co.uk


British energy make their own rules

19.09.2006 20:24

The 1st day of our 2nd week of industrial action took place today.
Our picket line was moved to the roundabout on the busy A78. This was under protest from ourselves, AMICUS the union, and the local police force against British Energy, who had threatened legal action against us for protesting on their land.
The original picket line (still preferred by the police but ignored by British Energy) was on the access road closest to the site and previously proposed as a suitable location by British Energy.
As on our previous picket lines all concerned continued to abide by rules pertaining to official picketing and adhered to any police advice given throughout the day.
A member of British Energy managerial staff felt it within his rights to stand at our picket line and harass his own employees into adhering to their instructions not to stop or talk to our members under threat of disciplinary reprisal.
This is action taken from a company who do not want to interfere with our dispute with Balfour Kilpatrick. You can draw your own conclusions.
We retire from our picket duties after an arduous 11 hrs of peaceful, law abiding and determined duty.

AMICUS MEMBER


I might have had sympathy but...

04.10.2006 14:16

after being stuck in a traffic jam for 15mins caused by your picket line I'm all out of sympathy. It might not be your fault that the line was moved there but when it impacts people who happen to have to use this major road every morning then it's just not on. If you don't like what your employers have done then get another job. It's what the rest of us do.

Andy


info from the picket

10.10.2006 20:56

only 15 mins hope you were in the jam today 2 hrs at least
thanx for your suport
are you in a trade union or are you managment ?
did you lose wages for your 15 mins late for your work ?
your work will still be there long after we are gone
thankfully you are in the minority !!!

amicus member


Solidarity

17.10.2006 10:39

I might have had sympathy but...
04.10.2006 16:16

after being stuck in a traffic jam for 15mins caused by your picket line I'm all out of sympathy. It might not be your fault that the line was moved there but when it impacts people who happen to have to use this major road every morning then it's just not on. If you don't like what your employers have done then get another job. It's what the rest of us do.
Andy

Well thankfully Andy, the vast majority of people that have been caught up in traffic, or affected in other ways by this unfortunate and unecessary dispute, are in full support of the striking electricians.
These workers, ordinary working men with families, don't want to be on strike! Unfortunately though, when workers rights are dismissed in such a fashion as they have been in this particular case, what options are left?
As for your crass statement, "If you don't like what your employers have done then get another job", .........Astounding!
I'm saddened that there are people like yourself, who are either ignorant of, or simply do not care about, the sacrifices that 'ordinary' working men and women have made throughout the years, particularily here in Scotland where Trades Unionists fought for basic 'rights' such as an employee's 'right' to be safe at work, and the 'fair days work for a fair days pay' culture.
Your father/mother, grandfather/mother must be really proud of you!

As for the striking workers, I for one hope that they will not be forced to carry on with their action. As I know that they, more than anyone else, would like to return to work as soon as possible.
I'd also like, once again, to register my great dissapointment at the lack of discussion, and the fact that a mass meeting of all BE staff was denied by Amicus stewards employed by BE !!!
Solidarity.

Dismayed
mail e-mail: juniorsacat@aol.com