Compo insult after 4 days of no water
Workers hold sit-in protest at N-plant over weather pay cut
PEOPLE facing a fourth day without water will get “insulting” compensation, a top Labour MP.
Burst pipes during the freeze led to problems for tens of thousands in the South East and Wales.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna’s constituents in Streatham, South London, will get compensation of £20 for 48 hours of no water, and a £10 per 24 hours after that point.
“Frankly I think that is an insult,” he said.
Thames Water, which made pre-tax profits of £638 million last year, was continuing to give out free bottled water yesterday.
HUNDREDS of staff at a nuclear power station held a sit-in protest when bosses said pay would be docked after a storm stopped work.
Construction of the £18billion Hinkley Point C plant was halted from Thursday to Sunday after the Met Office issued a red alert.
Staff who work seven-day weeks at the Somerset site were told they would not be paid for missed weekend days due to the blizzard. One employee said they were informed via text.
Up to 1,500 members of staff gathered yesterday morning in a canteen over their pay being cut for Saturday and Sunday.
One worker at the site, which employs around 2,000 people, claimed: “Management told us when they closed the site that basic hours would be paid. And they went back on that. It’s horrendous on everyone.”
Plant owner EDF Energy said most of the workforce were working as normal yesterday.
A spokesman said: “They will be paid in line with agreements signed with the trade unions.”
The controversial project will supply 7% of the UK’s electricity.