Workers storm out of Liverpool-region power station over toilets row

Workers have stormed out of a Liverpool-region power station site where bosses have provided just 12 toilets for 600 staff in "disgusting" welfare conditions.

The building work has been put on hold at the Cheshire site after the staff refused to put up with being treated as "second-class citizens".

Managers at the site use their own bathroom facilities which are kept "under lock and key", with workers not even being provided with hot water or paper towels.

The Runcorn Thermal Power Station will be the largest of its type in Europe and was set to be finished this month before about 600 staff took unofficial strike action every day since Monday.

Staff have met each morning for a ballot on strike action, claiming managers have made a string of promises to make improvements which have not been kept.

One worker, who asked not to be named, said: "It is absolutely disgusting.

"There is a maximum of 12 toilets for 600 workers, while management have their own to use which are kept under lock and key.

"There is no hot water and they won’t even provide paper towels.

"I wouldn’t expect a dog to put up with the conditions at the site.

"We are being treated as second-class citizens.

"Every day the vote has been pretty much unanimous and workers are standing together on this one."

Staff involved include electricians, steel fabricators and insulation workers.

Another worker said: "We have had monthly meetings where shop stewards have spoken to the management and promises have been made, but nothing is ever done.

"We came back in to work on Monday to find there was no electricity and all the toilets were locked up. It was the last straw and we felt we had to take action."

Runcorn Thermal Power Station is being built to convert non-recyclable waste from Greater Manchester and Cheshire into energy.

Workers are employed by a number of contractors, but the construction work is being overseen by Dublin-based principal contractor SISK.

No-one from the firm was available for comment.

"Shame on you SISK" Tommy Macca, Liverpool around 4 months, 1 week ago