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Constructive discussions between employers at Hinkley Point C and Unite the union have resulted in an interim agreement over the payment of bonuses during the construction of the power station.

All parties have agreed to take part in a collective differences panel that will seek to identify an agreeable long-term settlement of the bonus issue.
As part of the agreement, interim bonus payments will apply until the end of August 2017 and will be linked to safe and collaborative working on site. The total bonus to be paid on this basis is as follows: working supervisor and craft grades £4 an hour, skilled worker grades £3 per hour and general workers £2 an hour.

The interim payments were agreed by representatives of EDF Energy (the client), BYLOR (the Tier 1 contractor comprising Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues TP), the Kier-Bam joint venture (who are undertaking the enabling works) and Unite the union.

As part of the agreement, the previously approved Civil Engineering Sector Agreement (CESA) for the project, which governs pay and conditions, will be fully implemented with effect from 1 June 2017, including the interim bonus arrangements.

The collective differences panel, which will consist of a senior Unite full time official and a senior EDF Energy executive, will thoroughly examine the matter of bonuses.

The panel will seek to identify appropriate permanent bonus arrangements that are agreeable to all parties and is scheduled to deliver its recommendations on productivity/milestones bonus payments by August.

As part of the agreement, no industrial action will be considered while these interim arrangements are in place or until the collective differences procedure has been exhausted.

Nigel Cann, EDF Energy’s Programme and Construction Delivery Director for Hinkley Point C, said “We are proud about the ‘best in class’ nature of the overall package for the Hinkley Point C civil workforce.

“We have created great facilities, an opportunity to develop and a very competitive reward structure.

“We are pleased that these interim arrangements allow constructive dialogue to continue to finalise this important agreement.

“Unite the Union has been a constructive partner in the discussions to date and I look forward to this continuing throughout the construction of the Hinkley Point C power station.”

Unite acting national officer for construction Jerry Swain, said: “I am pleased that following consultation with our stewards and members that we along with the various parties have been able to agree a clear path forward and that the prospect of industrial action, which is always a last resort, can be taken off the agenda in order to allow the ‘Differences Panel’ to deliberate.

“The work undertaken by EDF Energy in ensuring that all parties signed up to the interim agreement has been crucial in providing a breathing space and creating the opportunity for a long-term solution being agreed to finally resolve this matter.”

A new plan regarding the future of Hinkley Point C is currently being considered following last month’s delay by Theresa May in approving the £18bn Hinkley Point project.

The government is currently considering a proposal to detach development of Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor from a previous agreement, whereby China is responsible for the delivery of the Essex-based power plant.

China became controversially involved in the project 12 months ago, offering to fund a third of the costs in a deal meant to ease financial pressure on French Energy firm EDF.

However, concerns were raised by Theresa May, who soon called for a project review shortly after becoming Prime Minister.

Putting the project in jeopardy

Experts suggest that any attempts to detract from the agreement whereby China build reactors in Britain risks endangering the whole deal; the primary reason for China’s involvement from their perspective was in order to showcase their nuclear technology in Europe. Otherwise, they would have little interest in being involved in such a project.

This news comes as another knock to overall confidence in the future of Hinkley Point C. Serious doubts plague the proposals regarding the financial and environmental cost of the project – it seems to be losing what little support it had in the first place. Last month, Stop Hinkley Spokesperson Allan Jeffery commented “Now even the financial press says Hinkley Point C has become a laughing stock.

“The cost keeps rising while the cost of renewables is falling rapidly, and the potential to make savings with energy efficiency is huge. We could replace Hinkley much more quickly and cheaply without the safety fears and without producing dangerous waste we don’t know what to do with.”