Workers from Wolffkran cranes taking action over pay and conditions
 
Strikes by workers from Wolffkran tower cranes at building sites across the UK will see construction work grind to a halt this winter.
Nearly 100 tower crane operators are taking strike action after not receiving a pay rise in three years. Unite members at Wolffkran are furious that the company is now also seeking to cut some of their additional benefits including standby payments.
Given the importance of tower cranes on major construction projects, sites will see work halted when the crane operators walk out later this month. Wolffkran operates on some of the biggest construction sites in the UK including the Grenfell Tower deconstruction, the Cambridge Science Park and the new headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Berkshire.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is completely unacceptable that highly skilled and vital construction workers have not seen their pay increase in three years. To add insult to injury Wolffkran is now attacking workers’ conditions.
 
“Unite is the UK’s principal construction union and we will be backing our members one hundred per cent in their dispute. They deserve a fair day's pay."
Tower crane operators will be taking the first day of strike action on Tuesday 27 January and will then take strike action every fortnight from then on. Exact days will be determined by members at each site based on what will cause the most disruption.
Unite regional officer Vince McCoy added: "These workers are doing a difficult, dangerous and highly stressful role.
 
“Without a pay rise for over three years and facing the threat of worse terms they have reached the end of their patience and are now taking strike action.
 
We urge Wolffkran to come back with a much improved offer."