‘Deeply sinister’

Unite has accused Merseyside police of being heavy handed with union activists protesting against working conditions at a construction site near Ellesmere Port.

Activists from Unite have been protesting outside at a construction site for an energy to waste project being built by Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC) since March.

Unite members report that the police have already arrested one member and have threatened the other “activists with regular arrests”.

Activists are protesting practices on the Hooton Park site resulting in a race to the bottom for construction workers’ conditions and undermining national construction agreements.

The site is on the border between Cheshire and Merseyside police and following a small relocation where the protests occur, the latter police force is now in charge of policing the entirely peaceful protests.

‘Deeply sinister’

Unite regional officer Steve Benson said, “The heavy handed approach of Merseyside police is deeply sinister.

“Construction activists are taking part in legitimate peaceful protest and the police announcing that there ‘will be regular arrests’ indicates the police have got a clear agenda.

“Merseyside police need to learn from their Cheshire counterparts who have always policed the protests in a consensual manner.

“Merseyside police need to change their approach or action needs to be taken to ensure that the fundamental right to peacefully demonstrate is maintained.”

The demonstrations are a result of the refusal of BWSC to observe the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI).

While BWSC has said that it will pay rates in line with the NAECI agreement, it won’t observe rules on overtime pay and other benefits.

‘Denied access’

Unite has been denied access to the site – expected to employ in excess of 400 construction workers – to speak to and recruit the workforce.

Benson said, “Construction activists have been holding regular protests, opposing the attacks on terms and conditions, which is creating a race to the bottom for skilled construction workers.

“Workers are also alarmed that the project has failed to recruit skilled local construction workers and instead opted to recruit workers from further afield.”

The next protest will be on Friday 23 August beginning at 05:30 until 09:00 at the Hooton Park site Wirral North Road, Ellesmere Port CH65 1AN.