A Hinkley Point C construction worker who also serves as a GMB union rep has hit back at a national news story over the weekend claiming that builders are going ‘woke’.
The Mail on Sunday story reported on the findings of a Toolstation survey, which found that two-thirds of builders regularly talk about their feelings and emotions with colleagues.
It also reported that one in 10 starts the day practising either Pilates or yoga, while a similar number meditate.
According to the newspaper, nearly half of the 2,000 construction workers polled were interested in history, while 30% followed politics and 60% were interested in science.
Meanwhile, one in three reported being vegetarian or eating meat less than twice a week. The survey also found that 75% of those surveyed said they enjoyed reading history, autobiographies and novels, while only one in five preferred reading the sports pages in newspapers.
The Mail’s story was headlined: “UK builders go WOKE”.
But the story prompted a reaction on video from Hinkley Point C worker ‘Jamie’, who is also a GMB union rep.
He said: “I’ve got a message for the Mail newspaper in a story calling us all ‘woke’. We work long hours in a manual job for long stretches away from our family and friends. We have the highest suicide rate among male occupations. It is not easy being away from your home and family but I guess you wouldn’t understand that. So if you think it’s a laugh to take the mick out of us about yoga and meditation and other things, like our feelings, speaking to each other about our mental health, you need to give your head a wobble and get in the real world.”
Toolstation head of marketing Greg Richardson said: “Those who work in the trades are changing, and our research shows that many outdated stereotypes no longer reflect reality.”
