Around 100 Hargreaves workers being 'ripped off' over shift pay 

Around 100 Hargreaves workers employed in a technical materials handling capacity at Drax power station in Selby in Yorkshire, will begin pay strikes later this week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday).

Workers employed directly by Drax performing the same role are paid £16,000 a year on top of their base pay for working shifts – ten times the around £1,600 a year Hargreaves staff receive for shift work.  

The pay deal currently on offer from Hargreaves, which includes an eight per cent increase in the workers’ basic rate, does not address the disparity in shift pay. It is also a real terms pay cut, with the real rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 11.4 per cent.  

In the six months to November 2022, Hargreaves made profits before tax of £18.7 million. The firm's highest paid director has also received a 26.8 per cent pay increase to £246,000 a year.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hargreaves is an extremely profitable company and can afford to pay these workers properly. It is disgraceful that they are being treated as second class employees compared to their colleagues employed directly by Drax. This needs to change. Hargreave’s workers have their union’s unflinching support as they strike for a fair wage rise and proper shift pay.”

The workers will stage an initial 24-hour walkout beginning at 19.00 hrs on Sunday 11 June. Strike action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved. 

Strike action could impact electricity generation operations at Drax.

Unite regional officer Christian Ratcliffe said: “The disruption that will be caused at Drax is entirely the fault of Hargreaves’ greed and its ripping off of these workers over shift pay. This is a very lucrative contract and Unite urges Drax to intervene and pressure Hargreaves into putting forward an offer our members can accept.” 

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.