Around 90 tower crane drivers at crane rental company Wolffkran are planning a series of strikes at the end of January over pay disputes
The tower crane drivers are reportedly planning to strike over a lack of pay rises for the last three years.
The first 24-hour strike is planned for Tuesday 27 January, with another following every two weeks until a resolution is found. Sites in London are expected to be hardest hit by the action.
Further talks with Wolffkran are planned before the strikes
Speaking to the Construction Enquirer, a crane driver source said that: “The drivers feel they aren’t being offered a fair wage for what is a vital job.
“Any strike action would have a major impact because we wouldn’t expect others to cross a picket line.”
They added that “Stopping work is always a last resort so hopefully a deal can be struck.”
Unite is backing the striking workers ‘one hundred per cent’
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is completely unacceptable that highly skilled and vital construction workers have not seen their pay increase in three years. To add insult to injury Wolffkran is now attacking workers’ conditions.
“Unite is the UK’s principal construction union and we will be backing our members one hundred per cent in their dispute. They deserve a fair day’s pay.”
Unite regional officer Vince McCoy added: “These workers are doing a difficult, dangerous and highly stressful role. Without a pay rise for over three years and facing the threat of worse terms they have reached the end of their patience and are now taking strike action. We urge Wolffkran to come back with a much improved offer.”
Wolffkran is yet to respond to a request for comment.
Wolffkran has been active in the UK for over a decade
First established in Germany in 1870, Wolffkran has become one of the foremost international crane rental brands, with a drive for expansion in recent years into the Middle East.
In 2015 they increased their presence in the UK market through the acquisition of HTC Plant Ltd, adding over 200 tower cranes to the rental fleet, as well as 370 employees, rebranding the company as Wolffkran Ltd in 2020 and pulling in multimillion yearly revenues.
