LNG workers back on site (From Western Telegraph)

LNG workers back on site

9:34am Friday 14th March 2008 in News

Workers at Dragon LNG have voted to go back to work this morning after a two day strike over water and safety issues.

Workers claim that there was no water went off for four hours on Saturday morning and that they were forced to work in Monday's high winds despite warnings from the site safety officer.

The Western Telegraph understands that the majority of the men elected to return after a pay deal was negotiated with management.

A well place source at the site said that management has agreed to pay the men £100 for the two days they were on strike and assured them that if they returned to work they would not lose their bonuses.

He added that some workers were threatened with notice to leave if they did not return to work.

"This was the best deal we were going to get and around two thirds of the men voted to return to work," said a local employee who wished to remain anonymous.

"The boys feel that they will listen to us now as we all went out together, rather than just a part of the workforce being on strike.

"We hope they will think twice before this happens again."

Workers say that the water went off as early as 8.20 on Saturday and had not come back on four hours later.

They also claim that the site safety officer, who said it was too dangerous to work in Monday's high winds, was overruled and the men were forced to work in dangerous weather conditions.