Hundreds of workers building the new Wembley Stadium were told today they will be laid off next week because of a dispute between contractors over pay.
Union officials said the steelworkers, scaffolders and welders were given notice that their employment will be terminated next Tuesday because sub-contractors have not been paid.
It is the latest problem to affect the multimillion-pound project, which is already seriously delayed.
Last week work was suspended for a day after a roof rafter collapsed.
The GMB union said its members had been told they were being laid off because their employers lacked sufficient funds to pay their wages.
National officer Tom Kelly said: “We have instructed out members to carry on working normally until we have an opportunity to resolve the matter.
“The stadium is not finished and someone will have to employ our members to finish the job.”
Frank Westerman of Amicus added: “We have advised our members to work normally while we try to resolve who is going to employ them and ensure that they will be paid.”
Wembley Stadium construction group Multiplex said the dispute was between a steel sub-contractor and an employment agency.
In a statement issued this afternoon, a spokesman for the Australian firm said: “This is an issue between Hollandier and Fasttrack and affects around 120 of our workers at Wembley.
“We are looking to our steel subcontractor, Hollandier, for continuity of works and have just met with the shop stewards who have given Multiplex an assurance that they will continue to work while Hollandier discuss the issues with Fasttrack.”
Neither Wembley National Stadium Ltd nor Fasttrack would comment on developments at the site this afternoon.
References: EGi News 28/03/06
