[olympiaworkers] Wildcat strike in Hartlepool

libcom.org Oct. 13, 2009

Hundreds of workers walked out in the morning of 12 October at an offshore
construction yard in a dispute over union recognition.

The Peterlee mail reported that workers want Unite to be given official
recognition at the Heerema site in Greenland Road, in Hartlepool, but
talks are believed to have stalled in the last few weeks.

That led to tradesmen calling a wildcat strike this morning with an
estimated 200 workers standing outside the gates of the site.

The Mail reported how 40 pipe-fitters and riggers had held similar action
at the beginning of last week in connection with the same dispute.

Workers want Unite to be recognised alongside the GMB as an officially
recognised union at Heerema.

One picketing worker, who did not want to be named, said: "All we want is
Unite to be recognised so they can take part in pay talks and we don't see
why that can't happen.

"We didn't want it to come to this but it has and it's good that 200 men
are standing together on this.

"So far this is only one day of action and we will wait and see what takes
place after this."

Heerema today told the Mail it could not comment on the matter.

Heerema is a Dutch-owned company which had a core team. It increased that
by around 280 more staff when it won new contracts.The firm designs and
constructs offshore facilities for the global oil and gas industry.