Over 50 crane drivers have rejected a pay offer from HTC Wolffkran

Cranes

Union Unite is warning of “a summer of chaos on construction sites” after tower crane drivers rejected a pay offer from the UK’s largest tower crane operator HTC Wolffkran, part of German crane giant Wolffkran.

Over 50 crane drivers unanimously rejected a 3% pay offer at a meeting this week, the union said.

The union added that it will now carry out a consultative ballot of its entire membership and if no improved pay offer is made expects to begin a full industrial action ballot in early summer.

HTC Wolffkran is currently working on the redevelopment of the BBC TV Centre at White City, Westfield’s shopping centre in Shepherds Bush, Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium and Goldman Sachs’ new Farringdon headquarters, the union said.

Unite’s acting national officer for construction Jerry Swain, said: “Workers are demanding an offer based on the company’s ability to pay. There is no way members will accept an offer which sees their standard of living effectively cut through rising inflation, when HTC’s coffers are bulging.

“If the company fail to significantly improve their pay offer then Unite members will not shy away from causing major industrial disruption, with high profile construction sites being targeted.”

HTC Wolffkran was formed after it acquired PC Harrington Group’s HTC crane division, HTC Plant Ltd, nearly two years ago.

The £40m-turnover business comprises a fleet of over 200 Wolff tower cranes and 370 staff. 

 

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