Unions Unite and GMB held a consultative ballot of their members at the site last week on whether to accept the proposed bonus offered by the BYLOR consortium of Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues.

The offer was overwhelmingly rejected  as “inadequate to attract the quality of workers needed to ensure that the civil works phase of the £18 billion project is completed on time.”

Fresh talks are currently being scheduled and union leaders are hopeful of averting the need for industrial action following the positive intervention of client EDF.

Unite acting national officer for construction Jerry Swain said: “Members have overwhelmingly rejected BYLOR’s proposed bonus which in no way meets workers’ expectations or the requirements of the project.

“In the face of a looming industrial dispute the client has shown good sense and has stepped in to try to resolve the problem.

“It is hoped that when fresh negotiations commence BYLOR and in particular Laing O’Rourke are prepared to enter into practical discussions and a sensible bonus which meets the expectations of the workforce and ensures the project is delivered on time, can be agreed.”

Phil Whitehurst, GMB national officer for construction, said: “Our members gave this derisory bonus offer the short shrift it deserved by overwhelmingly voting it down.

“If the companies want to avoid strike action, they need to make us a serious offer, which matches our members’ skills level, when we get back round the table.

“If they don’t, they could be facing an industrial dispute and delays to the whole Hinkley Point project.”

Workers on the site believe some wages and bonus packages could hit the £60,000 mark on the project.