Nuclear clients worried over strike threats

Grant Prior 13 years ago
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Clients are worried that unstable industrial relations could derail the Government’s £50bn new nuclear power station construction programme.

The Enquirer understands that energy giants like EDF are becoming increasingly concerned over the number of strikes that have hit power jobs.

Contractors are being quizzed over their industrial relations policies with some leading calls for a revolution in pay and conditions agreements.

Industrial relations in the engineering construction sector have traditionally been governed by the Naeci “Blue Book” agreement.

But some nuclear experts are now wondering whether a different approach should be taken.

One contractor told the Enquirer: “There have been a number of strikes and disputes at smaller power station jobs run under the Naeci agreement.

“We can’t risk strikes on something as important as the nuclear building programme so perhaps it’s time to look at an alternative.

“The clients want something which guarantees no strikes so we might have to look at a different type of agreement.

“There have been no strikes at the Olympics and that was run under a specially drawn-up deal so that may be a role model.”

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