An unofficial strike of construction site workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset began on Wednesday (July 9) due to alleged bullying from senior management. The strikers worked for the MEH (mechanical, electrical and HVAC) alliance of contractors which brings together Altrad Services, Cavendish, Balfour Beatty, NG Bailey and Altrad Babcock. One striker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This bullying has been going on for far too long.” A contract worker on the project told the Guardian one of the incidents was believed to have involved a senior manager bullying a young woman on the team. He stated: “They’ve had enough, and they’re out the gate.”
Unite the Union did not support the strike, with strikers reportedly “furious” it was not backing them. A Unite spokesperson claimed: “Unite understands a number of workers took part in a protest over management practices. This has resulted in them being removed from the site for the remainder of today. Unite expects this matter to be resolved soon.”
The union representative was joined by a Hinkley Point C spokesperson who stated: “We join with our trades union partners in asking that the correct process is followed to resolve any grievance. Normal working throughout the site has been unaffected by this unofficial action.”
It is unclear how many workers participated in the strike. One striker initially reported on July 9 that 3,000–4,000 people had walked out. But a source closer to management claimed there were under 2,000 MEH staff and most of these had still been working. It is worth acknowledging that is in the interests of management to lower the morale of the strikers by implying their numbers were small and also that workers may have participated in the strike who were not part of the MEH alliance. Regardless of the exact number - clearly an impressive number of workers participated in this wildcat strike.
Despite the anti-strike position of Unite, the strikers managed to successfully picket the site. A video seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service showed a “huge group of people stood outside the turnstiles at the Hinkley Point C bus station, while one man was blocked from going through the turnstiles.” One worker for a different company who was not part of the strike said that workers trying to enter the site were called “scabs” and “snakes” and blocked from entering. This worker stated: “Some managed to push through - myself bring one of them. It was absolute chaos with hundreds of people congregated near the gates and bus terminal.”
A video of the picket on social media (possibly the video seen by the LDRS) showed orderly strikers resisting workers crossing their line. One man was trying to push through while strikers repeated “No dignity” and “No morals”. The man was told by a striker “Don’t push me” several times before appearing to be pushed to the ground by the striker who then stated “Yeah, well he pushed me, it is self defence mate and what?” to a nearby security guard.
There was also a comment on social media that earlier on in the dispute the strikers had “just sat down peacefully not stopping anyone.”
The strikers are set to return to work on Thursday (July 17) after the supervisor alleged to have bullied staff is understood to have been removed from the site, with the allegations still to be investigated. Construction workers also told the Socialist Party of England and Wales that they felt “vindicated” and were demanding that the pay the had lost through the action be reimbursed - it is unclear whether or not this demand has been met but it demonstrates the confidence of the strikers
A Hinkley Point C spokesperson stated: “We are pleased that this unofficial action has ended and that an appropriate, independent, process to investigate and resolve grievances will be followed as requested.” Whatever happened to the nonchalant claim that normal working had continued despite the strike?
Hinkley C has a tradition of workplace militancy with several occurrences of unofficial strikes and actions over the last several years. The Guardian claimed this was the second unofficial strike to take place in a week at the site. Amidst a floundering workers’ movement this should be seen as a small example of the effectiveness of workers’ self organisation, wildcat strikes and direct action. It should also prove as yet another example that the leaders of the trade unions will seek to undermine any struggles which they do not control. In the words of the Dutch Council Communist Anton Pannekoek from 1936: “The labor leader stands beside the capitalist in their common fear of the workers' rebellion.”