Steelworkers at Wembley stadium will be paid £1700 a week over Christmas in a last-ditch attempt to get the stadium’s roof built in time for this season’s FA Cup.
Big bucks: Steelworkers will earn £1700 a week
Building understands that steelworkers employed by Hollandia will work an 11-day fortnight over Christmas, including the three-day break between Christmas and the new year. It is understood that the workers will be paid an average of £1700 a week.
A union source confirmed: “Some steelworkers on the roof of the stadium have been asked to work over the Christmas period. They will be adequately rewarded for their efforts.”
A spokesperson for Multiplex, the main contractor, confirmed that although the site would be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the bank holidays, it would be open in the period between Christmas and the new year.
The roof has been a source of constant anxiety for main contractor Multiplex, which agreed a series of milestone payments with unions this year in order to boost the chances of completion in time for the FA Cup final on 13 May.
It is understood that steelworkers have met the last two milestones but subcontractors from other sectors have complained their work has been put back because of the delays to the steelwork structure. Multiplex told Building last month that full hospitality facilities may not be in place for the opening events in the stadium.
The setbacks began when steelwork contractor Cleveland Bridge was thrown off the project by Multiplex last year. Hollandia was brought in as a replacement. Cleveland Bridge and Multiplex are now engaged in a legal dispute, with a court hearing due next month.
To get the stadium ready for the FA Cup it must be completed by the end of March to allow for several warm-up games to take place, after which snags can be sorted out.
Meanwhile, 850 civil engineering workers on Heathrow Terminal 5 were set to go on strike today over claims for a £1-an-hour bonus. They were due to return to work on Tuesday.
The workers are employed by main contractor Laing O’Rourke, which has so far rejected the claims. UCATT is expected to join the GMB and T&G in taking action. It had initially stayed its hand because of doubts over the legality of the strike ballot.
The workers will picket seven sites over the weekend. An overtime ban will also be put in place. Union sources warned that the strikes would be followed by more action next month if Laing O’Rourke did not back down.
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