Construction Workers Protest Over Jobs At 2012 Olympic Site

Construction workers are protesting at the 2012 Olympic Games site in London to demand that more British workers should be employed rather than agency workers.

Around 400 members of GMB and Unite unions demonstrated at the site in Stratford, east London. They will travel on coaches from construction sites across the country.

The workers will also be demanding jobs in the community for steel workers and electricians.

A spokesperson from GMB Union said they are calling for 100% direct employment on the Olympic site and they don't want to see any agency workers.


Keith Gibson, from the GMB union, said: "The protest is about the EU legislation regards to social dumping of European workers throughout Europe in different parts of the country.

"They are not obeying the pay and conditions that the agreements will work under."

The Olympic Delivery Authority said it had been advertising jobs first in local job centres.

An ODA spokesperson said: "We are providing jobs and training at a difficult time for the economy, exceeding our targets on the employment of local people.

"We work closely with the UK Borders Agency to ensure all those working on site are legally entitled to do so.

"There are high levels of direct employment on the Olympic Park and we have a positive agreement with the unions representing construction workers on site which includes national wage rates."

(CD/JM)