By British Steel scaffolders strike enters 100th day
Strike action which began on the 4th of November has now entered its 100th day after 60 Actavo took action at the British Steel works.
According to Unite the Union staff at the North Lincolnshire site are paid around 15% less than the rate previously agreed by the contractor Actavo.
Unite have said they will continue until their demands are met.
Actavo said the national agreement did not apply, but it was “keen to work on negotiations”.
The workers maintain around 500 structures at the site.
Speaking on behalf of the scaffolders Chrissie West told BBC Radio Humberside the situation was stressful.
She said staff do not feel they are “being valued for the job they are doing”.
Former Grimsby MP Melanie Onn, has assured strikers that they “have my support and deserve it from across Grimsby”.
“National agreements that secure clear rates for specialist skills and project jobs, deserve to be fought for”.
This a week comes after the strikers took to the streets of Grimsby to protest outside of MP Lia Nici’s office.
Five MPs, not including Lia Nici, have already written to Actavo and British Steel in attempts to resolve the issue.
But Ms Nici recently went so far as to state that she is “washing her hands of responsibility” in regard to the ongoing dispute.
Angered by Ms Nici’s lack of involvement, strikers are demanding answers.
Richard Bedford, Regional Officer for Unite the Union said: “Lia Nici the MP for Great Grimsby is having trouble standing up for her constituents employed by Actavo.
“Instead of washing her hands of responsibility it’s time for the MP for Great Grimsby to support her constituents.”
Lia Nici responded to the event, branding it “aggressive and unhelpful.”
