STRIKING workers at an under-construction power station returned to work after talks over toilets and welfare conditions.
Construction staff at Runcorn Thermal Power Station walked out last Monday over safety concerns, toilets and catering standards.
After a series of daily ballots the unofficial strike went on for the entire week ahead of crunch meetings with site bosses yesterday.
Those negotiations proved successful and work has now resumed on the project.
One worker, who asked not to be named, said: "We went in and they told us the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were satisfied it was safe and made assurances about the future maintenance of the site."
The question of pay had been a sticking point in the discussions with workers claiming they should not be penalised for taking part in the industrial action.
After an offer was made of a £250 payment to each striker a vote was taken and the decision was made to return to work.
Runcorn Thermal Power Station is set to be the biggest of its type in Europe, converting non-recyclable waste from Greater Manchester and Cheshire into energy.
Workers had claimed there were only 12 toilets available for use by 600 people but site owners Kepple Seghers told the ECHO yesterday they did not accept this.
A spokesman said: "The specific concerns regarding welfare facilities were raised by the workforce for the first time on January 7.
"Keppel Seghers and the subcontractors subsequently reviewed and investigated their concerns, and found the maintenance of the welfare facilities to be acceptable.
"A joint inspection was also carried out on 9 January 2013 by workforce representatives and full-time union officials who have reached the same collective conclusion that on-site welfare facilities are satisfactorily maintained."
The spokesman said talks between union representatives and subcontractors would continue.
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive, which visited the site on Friday, said: "One of our inspectors visited the construction site for Runcorn Thermal Power Station on Friday to investigate complaints about toilet facilities and other welfare issues.
"We are satisfied that the site exceeds the minimum legal requirement of there being at least one toilet for every 25 workers.
"The facilities were also found to be generally clean and tidy.
"We therefore do not believe it is necessary to take any further action in relation to this."
