BOSSES behind a £250m Teesside energy plant have dismissed fresh allegations they are snubbing North-East workers in favour of foreign staff.

Sita Sembcorp UK’s waste-to-energy plant, in Wilton, near Redcar, is due to open next year, to turn household waste into electricity and steam.

But the work has been dogged by protests from unions, who have held demonstrations outside the factory, amid accusations wages are being undercut, overseas personnel are being favoured and safety issues are being overlooked.

The situation has now been taken on by Redcar MP Anna Turley, who has spoken to Business Secretary Sajid Javid about Government policies to ensure British workers are not affected.

However, Sita Sembcorp UK has comprehensively rebuffed the assertions, telling The Northern Echo the claims have no foundations, adding its site is safe, pay is equal or above national agreements, and unions have been granted access to see it for themselves.

A spokesman said: “There is no substance to allegations workers at Wilton are paid wages that undercut the unions’ respective national working agreements on rates of pay.

“The contractors involved in the construction have been selected for their knowledge and experience of the specialist equipment used in these complex facilities.

“Subsequently, the skilled labour employed by the contractors on site matches these requirements and all employees are there because of their specialist knowledge of these plants, not their nationality.

“All have a legal entitlement to work in the UK, enjoy rates of pay equivalent or higher to each of the unions’ relevant national agreements and contribute to the local economy while they are here.

“Following discussions with the Unite, GMB and Ucatt unions, we have granted access to the site so that they may satisfy themselves of these facts.”

He added the building process, which is being managed by joint venture company CNIM Clugston Wilton, has been deemed exceptional by the Considerate Constructors Scheme.

But Ms Turley, who says she previously contacted Sita Sembcorp over workforce terms and conditions and overseas labour, says she wants to see more being done for North-East people.

She added: “There is real strength of feeling from local construction workers around this issue.

“We have a highly-skilled and motivated workforce on Teesside and we desperately need more employment opportunities in our area.

“I will be taking the Business Minister up on his offer to look at the case and I will continue to press his Government to commit to ensuring national standards for salaries and terms and conditions are adhered to.”

The energy site is expected to open in late 2016 and convert more than 400,000 tonnes of household waste from Merseyside into electricity and steam.

The plant will create about 50 permanent jobs when work starts.