Parc Adfer – Deeside construction site protests have cost the council and police over £80,000

The cost of managing a series of protest at the £800m Parc Adfer construction project on Deeside Industrial Estate have been revealed ahead of a meeting later this week.

A report published by the North Wales Residual Waste Joint Committee (NWRWTP) shows North Wales Police and Flintshire Council’s Highways department have so far been hit with costs of over £80,000 due to the protests which began back in August 2017.

Members of Unite and JMB unions working on the construction project have held 13 protests so far, 11 at the site and two at County Hall in Mold.

Unions claim there is “continuing exploitation of the site’s workforce, which is creating a ‘race to the bottom’ on pay and conditions.”

The report says: “the protests have proved to be disruptive and have taken considerable time and effort by both Flintshire County Council (Highways, Chief Officer level and Chief Executive) and North Wales Police to manage and ensure public safety, whilst maintaining the Unions’ legitimate right to protest.”

Following the latest protest on May 30 – North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones suggested the contract at the heart of the dispute should be changed and costs incurred by North Wales Police recharged to the council and the Welsh Government, in tweet he said:

“Time for @NWPolice to re-charge CNIM @FlintshireCC @WelshGovernment for policing costs and amend the contract”

Responding, Cllr Aaron Shotton, Leader of Flintshire County Council said;

“Unfortunately you appear to have bought in to the myth that @FlintshireCC is responsible for the protest. It’s not and your tweet is less than helpful. If you would like to understand the facts and what @FlintshireCC is doing to facilitate a resolution then I’m happy to assist.”

CNIM was appointed by American firm Wheelabrator to deliver the Park Adfer project on behalf of NWRWTP led by Flintshire County Council and includes Conwy Borough Council, Denbighshire County Council, Gwynedd County Council and Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The report also says the £82,000 in costs “does not count the considerable Flintshire County Council Chief Officer and Chief Executive involvement in not only managing the protests, but also the extensive work involved in direct contact and facilitating wider discussions with the Unions, WTI and CNIM.

Those discussions continue, including the invitation of the Unions to this meeting to discuss their concerns.”

Unite say the project should be carried out under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI) or Blue Book – a collective bargaining agreement on terms of employment negotiated between employer representatives and Trades Unions.

Unite claim workers on the construction on the site are being paid as little as £8.75 an hour “which means that workers are potentially receiving 63 per cent below the agreed standard construction rate of £17.39 for this type of mechanical engineering construction work.” Unite says.

CNIM has vehemently denied the claims but Unite and GMB have continued to apply pressure on the five councils involved in the project and local politicians to demand ‘correct rates’ are paid and NAECI is adopted.

Unite regional officer Steve Benson previously said:

“It is appalling that workers are being exploited through low pay on a project ultimately funded by the taxpayer.

Unite has been working to resolve the exploitation on the site but we have been met with warm words but no action.

Workers are receiving a pittance compared to what they should be receiving for the work they are undertaking.

By failing to comply with the correct industrial agreements the companies are undermining pay rates across the entire industry and creating a race to the bottom.

The local authorities need to stop pretending to look the other way and to take responsibility for the exploitation and misery that is being created on their watch.”

CNIM has hit back at Unite’s claims, a spokesperson for the company said:

“CNIM totally rejects the comments made by the protesters about its work in the UK. The company has followed good practice in the UK for more than 20 years.

With respect to the allegations made by the protesters regarding NAECI.

NAECI is an optional agreement. CNIM has been clear that it complies fully with UK law and observes all relevant UK legislation.

This project was procured by local authorities in 2016, who are duty bound to make the best use of public funds.

The UK and Welsh Governments are clear that NAECI is not specified as a requirement for local authority projects.

As a result, the project is not designated as being a NAECI site and will not become one.

There are no local authority projects to date that have been designated NAECI and as far as we are aware, no project has become one after the procurement phase has closed.

We have been working according to the Welsh Government Code of Conduct, which sets out best practice for projects like this. This position is supported by the Unions and we also require our sub-contractors to work to the same guidelines.”