This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8057286.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Walkout after 'local labour' row Walkout after 'local labour' row
(10 minutes later)
Contract workers at a LNG site and power station have walked out on unofficial strike in a dispute over the hiring of local labour.Contract workers at a LNG site and power station have walked out on unofficial strike in a dispute over the hiring of local labour.
The GMB union said the dispute started with 50 laggers at South Hook liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. The GMB union said the walk out started with 50 laggers at South Hook liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.
It comes only a week the terminal was officially opened by the Queen.
Laggers and thermal insulation engineers also walked out at Aberthaw power station in the Vale of Glamorgan.Laggers and thermal insulation engineers also walked out at Aberthaw power station in the Vale of Glamorgan.
RNE Npower said some contractors had walked out but the site was operating. A spokesperson for South Hook confirmed a number of employees of a sub-contractor had walked off the site.
"The sub-contractor involved is taking steps to resolve matters with its employees and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time," said the spokesperson.
GMB officials said the dispute is believed to have started at South Hook and stem from a contractor Hertel UK refusing to meet a standard agreement to offer local workers priority in stage two lagging work.GMB officials said the dispute is believed to have started at South Hook and stem from a contractor Hertel UK refusing to meet a standard agreement to offer local workers priority in stage two lagging work.
Union sources said the industrial action could spread to other sites across the UK unless the dispute was resolved quickly.Union sources said the industrial action could spread to other sites across the UK unless the dispute was resolved quickly.
No-one was available for comment at Hertel UK. Hertel UK said it would comment later.
A spokesperson for RWE Npower says some contractors have walked off site at Aberthaw power station but they have not had any formal notification about their reasons.A spokesperson for RWE Npower says some contractors have walked off site at Aberthaw power station but they have not had any formal notification about their reasons.
All RWE Npower employers are at work and the site is operating.All RWE Npower employers are at work and the site is operating.
Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB, said his union was making urgent inquiries into the cause of the dispute.Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB, said his union was making urgent inquiries into the cause of the dispute.
He said: "We understand that an agreement to give work on these large projects to local labour has been breached."He said: "We understand that an agreement to give work on these large projects to local labour has been breached."
South Hook was officially opened as a LNG terminal by the Queen earlier this month.South Hook was officially opened as a LNG terminal by the Queen earlier this month.
Some workers have also apparently walked out at Dragon LNG site a few miles away.Some workers have also apparently walked out at Dragon LNG site a few miles away.
A spokeswoman for Dragon LNG, which is currently building a smaller terminal the other side of Milford Haven, said some workers had left the site in support of industrial action elsewhere, but it was not a mass exodus and there was no demonstration.A spokeswoman for Dragon LNG, which is currently building a smaller terminal the other side of Milford Haven, said some workers had left the site in support of industrial action elsewhere, but it was not a mass exodus and there was no demonstration.
Similar action took place at the same sites in January in support of staff at the Lindsey refinery in north Lincolnshire over a £200m construction contract being given to an Italian firm.Similar action took place at the same sites in January in support of staff at the Lindsey refinery in north Lincolnshire over a £200m construction contract being given to an Italian firm.