Johnson Matthey's Royston gigafactory site branded 'unsafe' following staff walkouts
GMB Union has slammed two companies overseeing the hydrogen gigafactory project in Royston, Hertfordshire after around 30 workers were suspended for challenging persistent health and safety breaches, including no running water on site.
Industrial engineering giants BGEN and Bilfinger are responsible for the £80 million government-backed project, which will manufacture hydrogen cell components for use in EVs.
The site, described by one worker as ‘the worst site I have ever been on’, has seen a host of issues, including anti-union behaviour, multiple health and safety breaches, and the tragic suicides of two workers.
The issues identified by GMB have encountered include:
- Two tragic suicides on site
- Multiple health and safety issues including poor ventilation, grinding of paint with carcinogenic properties, lack of cold weather clothing, frozen pipes, and no running water
- Ongoing suspension of three union reps, despite presenting no evidence and their employer BGEN confirming no case to answer
- The principal contractor, Fluor, denying union officials access to the site
The most recent incident saw workers suspended after they downed tools and refused to work in unsafe conditions, representing the second time workers have had to take such action.
GMB has met with Chris Hinchliff, MP for North East Hertfordshire, to discuss its concerns.
The union is calling for the suspended workers to be reinstated immediately and for BGEN and Bilfinger to take urgent action to protect workers on site.
John Colquhoun, GMB Senior Organiser, said:
“Given the heart-breaking tragedy of two employees taking their own lives, you would think the employers would learn and re-consider the current morale on site, ensuring staff are supported, listened to and treated fairly.
“The recent suspension of around 30 employees who stood down due to the site being unsafe demonstrates they have learned nothing from the experience.
“GMB and Unite have continuously tried to gain access to the site to support our members to improve working relations, but we have been denied since day one.
“It is no wonder they are struggling to recruit and retain staff on site.”
Chris Hinchliff MP said:
“I am deeply concerned about the conditions and alleged treatment that construction workers have faced on this important project.
“Everyone deserves safe working conditions and fair treatment. When workers feel they aren't getting this, it is a reasonable expectation that their unions would be granted site access to properly assess the situation.
“I urge the contractors to engage constructively with the unions to resolve all ongoing issues as swiftly as possible.”
One GMB member stated:
“I have worked all over the country in construction and can safely say this is the worst site I have ever been on.
“Despite the host of problems we have faced, management just don’t learn or listen to us, and morale has gone from bad to worse to non-existent.”
