By a black-listed construction worker
Unite and Ucatt have now completed their merger, so there are now more than 1000,00 in the construction sector of Unite. This can only be a good thing for construction workers. With the bulk of the construction industry now all in the same union, they are a powerful force when united. Solidarity action must be taken now in all future disputes of crane drivers, electricians, pipefitters, plumbers, civil trades, scaffolders, or ground workers.
Ucatt officers are now working with Unite officers and problems from the past must be put aside as the enemy is the employer not each other. The construction new sector will grow and the riscs and niscs groups can work well now. Rank and file activists must get involved and push forward to improve the industry. Self-employment is still a big issue. National agreements, too, must be a top priority for Unite because employers need to be made to adhere to these and contractors forced to pay the appropriate rates for the job.
Black-listing is still an issue. It has been discovered that black-listing has taken place on the Crossrail project. Unite has called on the government to take decisive action and end black-listing once and for all. At a recent debate in parliament led by Chuka Umunna, it was discussed that blacklisting is still going on in Crossrail. MPs were told how Crossrail’s employee-relations department had been exchanging emails with its contractors which detailed surveillance of workers. Workers had then applied for jobs and were constantly denied work on the project.
It also a disgrace that the repairs to Big Ben have been awarded to Robert McAlpine, one of the biggest black-listers of all. This is outrageous. Sixty MPs have now signed an Early Day Motion, tabled by Chuka Umunna, calling for Robert McAlpine Ltd to be stripped of the contract for the restoration work and for the contract to be awarded instead to a firm without a history of black-listing. None of the firms in the blacklisting conspiracy have been properly punished for ruining building workers’ lives. They issued an apology and claim that black-listing is “no longer taking place” but this is utter nonsense. Unite have set a date for a black-listing day of action on 22nd November, with a lobby of Parliament and protests in every region. More details will follow and the black-list support group is appealing for support for this.
This autumn Unite’s organising departments campaign for construction will get underway. Forty contractors will be targeted, nineteen of them are known black-listers. Fifty employment agencies will also be targeted and 238 sub-contractors. This is a great initiative and the rank and file will be involved. All-in-all things are looking good for construction workers. It will be one hell of a battle but one we must all be involved in. Support from other trade unionists may be required. Together, united, we are stronger. Let us take on the challenge and transform the construction industry. It is long overdue.
October 14 2017
Post-script (November 11, 2017)
An ethical labour standard award to leading blacklisting company Sir Robert McAlpine has been described as ‘shocking and disgusting’ by the construction union Unite. In October, the company became the first construction contractor to be awarded the ‘Ethical Labour Sourcing’ standard by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
But, Unite says, Sir Robert McAlpine was at the centre of the Consulting Association blacklisting operation, supplying both the first and final chair of the organisation and being one of the principal users of the blacklisting process which ruined the lives of thousands of workers, many targeted for raising safety concerns.
Unite is currently suing Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd on behalf of victims of blacklisting, having already secured millions of pounds in compensation for blacklisted workers from firms involved with the Consulting Association.
The union says its concerns about the firm have been reinforced by MPs, with 75 signing an early day motion calling on the company to be stripped of the contracts to refurbish Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower because of its involvement in blacklisting.
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “Awarding an ethical standard for labour sourcing to Sir Robert McAlpine is both shocking and disgusting. There is nothing ethical about blacklisting workers and ruining their lives.” She added: “While BRE’s intentions to monitor and improve the recruitment of construction workers should have been a step forward, the organisation has shot itself in the foot by glossing over the stench of blacklisting which permeates from Sir Robert McAlpine.”
