BOSSES at a waste-to-energy factory have invited unions for talks to ease a row over alleged poor working conditions.

Sita Sembcorp UK says it wants to meet officials face-to-face after claims of unrest over the wage rates and safety of more than 300 construction staff at its development in Wilton, near Redcar.

The move comes after The Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians last week accused senior bosses of being hostile and making it impossible for them to access the site.

The Unite union also previously alleged workers were being pitted against each other through a side-stepping of industry standards to drive down wages, and prospective Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said he believes hundreds of foreign workers are being employed at the expense of Teessiders.

However, in a statement, Sita Semborp rejected the claims, saying two thirds of staff on the site are engaged in civil engineering work, with all having rates of pay equivalent to the national agreement or higher.

A spokesman also said most of the remaining workers are overseeing construction and commissioning mechanical and electrical elements, and have terms and conditions of employment comparable with UK national agreements in the UK.

He added 30 agency staff are paid at national agreement levels.

Ian Sexton, Sita Semborp chairman, said the firm could meet with unions at a jobs event.

He said: “We are encouraging local people to come along to a jobs fair on February 19, where there will be at least 50 jobs available.

“Most of these jobs will be skilled posts and we expect local people to secure a good proportion of them.

“Other local employers will be offering workers further vacancies, which will become available during the later stages of construction and throughout the facility’s operation.”

The energy site is expected to open in late 2016 and will convert more than 400,000 tonnes of household waste from Merseyside into electricity and steam, generating about 63,000 homes by re-using waste that would have gone to landfill.

Construction is being managed by joint venture company CNIM Clugston Wilton, and the waste factory will create about 50 permanent posts when work starts.