Unite members and other trade unionists will stage a protest at the Parc Adfer site in Deeside tomorrow.

Campaigners will protest outside the £800 million energy from waste site from 5.30am in order to further pressurise the French contractor CNIM to adhere to recognised construction sector agreements.

According to Unite, the workforce is being paid £8.75 an hour which means workers are potentially receiving 63 per cent below the agreed standard construction rate of £17.39 for this type of mechanical engineering construction work.

Unite regional officer Steve Benson said: “It is appalling that workers are being exploited through low pay on a project ultimately funded by the taxpayer.

“Unite has been working to resolve the exploitation on the site but we have been met with warm words but no action.

“Workers are receiving a pittance compared to what they should be receiving for the work they are undertaking.

“By failing to comply with the correct industrial agreements the companies are undermining pay rates across the entire industry and creating a race to the bottom.

“The local authorities need to stop pretending to look the other way and to take responsibility for the exploitation and misery that is being created on their watch.”

CNIM has been appointed by American firm Wheelabrator to deliver the Park Adfer project. The client is North Wales Residual Waste Treatment Partnership which is led by Flintshire Council and includes Conwy Council, Denbighshire Council, Gwynedd Council and Isle of Anglesey Council.

When the site is fully operational there will be roughly 300 workers employed on the project.

A statement issued on behalf of the North Wales Residual Waste Treatment Project Partnership: Parc Adfer said: "The Partnership has repeatedly set out its position and issued the following statement on 15 December 2017;

"The contract was awarded to Wheelabrator Technologies Inc (WTI) in December 2016 to build and operate the Parc Adfer facility in Deeside Industrial Park, Flintshire.

"The need to move away from Landfill to treat waste that cannot be recycled is well documented and Parc Adfer is an important part of this for the partner authorities and an important part of the Welsh Government’s waste strategy.

“The total contract value is £600m, which includes the cost of building and operating the facility for 25 years.

"The cost of building the facility is borne by WTI and their funders, who are then in turn paid a gate fee by the partner authorities for each tonne of waste delivered to the facility for the 25 years.

"The Welsh Government has provided policy and financial support for the Partnership since the procurement phase, and that support will continue with their financial support to the partner authorities valued at £140m over the 25 year operational life of the contract.

“The Partnership, whilst not responsible for WTI’s contracting arrangements for the construction of the site, are facilitating and encouraging contact with the Unions. The Partnership has invited the Trade Unions to share their specific concerns for an open dialogue with WTI and CNIM.

“Flintshire County Council as lead authority for the Partnership has facilitated open and constructive discussion between WTI, CNIM and the GMB and Unite unions.

“The trade union protest is about national issues which are not the responsibility of the Partnership or Flintshire County Council and we have no further comment."