Protestors jeopardise O'Rourke negotiations

Renegade protestors hijacked two tower cranes on Laing O’Rourke’s £311m Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Contract 105 yesterday.

The protestors hijacked two tower cranes at the site in the early hours of Monday after scaling security fences. They hung posters, which read “Workers’ solidarity”.

A Laing O’Rourke spokesman said: “Protestors have illegally entered the site. They are not employed by Laing O’Rourke, nor do they have the support of the construction unions. Efforts will be made by the relevant authorities to arrange a managed safe removal from the site.”

Tom Kelly, regional organiser for the GMB, said: “The problem in the past has been that large-scale open worker meetings were held outside the site, usually in neighbouring parks or pubs, because the GMB wasn’t allowed in by O’Rourke.

“This has meant that almost anybody could have joined the meetings and listened to loads of disgruntled workers voicing their distress and anger at the working agreement’s proposals.”

One site source said: “Some might see that the workers now hold the power on site and see this as an opportunity to cause mischief.”