Anti-Union Laing O'Rourke Forced into Hinkley Agreement

It has been revealed this week, that the anti-union, anti-workers rights,anti-workers safety and MAJOR construction Blacklister, Laing O'Rourke, were threatened by EDF to have their Hinkley Point contract ripped up, if they did not sign up to the site agreements. 

They had been standing strong and resisting signing up to the ground-breaking EDF/Union agreements but when EDF threatened to remove them from the project they succumbed and signed up.

All over the country Laing O'Rourke are currently blocking Union access to its sites, ignoring democratically elected Shop Stewards & Safety Reps and treating site Health & Safety with total disregard.

Laing O'Rourkes Mechanical & Electrical arm, Crown House Technologies have been told by EDF that they will not be allowed on Hinkley Point due to their behaviour in recent years with regards to BESNA and their resignation from the JIB.

Site Worker Magazine

The January 2014 edition of Site Worker Magazine is OUT NOW

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Blacklist Support Group Update

Blacklist Support Group  

Update 24th January 2014

 

1. Scottish Affairs Select Committee

The Scottish Affairs Select Committee investigation into blacklisting is continuing with UCATT, GMB & UNITE giving evidence this week. A second Interim Report is expected to be published in March. Phil Whitehurt of the GMB and Steve Murphy both called for blacklisting to be made a criminal offence with prison sentences. Bernard McAulay attacked Crown House for their continued anti-union attitude.

Video of latest hearing: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=14696

News Report: http://union-news.co.uk/2014/01/blacklisting-must-made-illegal-union-tells-mps/

2. Blacklist Compensation Scheme latest

At present there is no offer by the companies but the blacklisting firms have requested a meeting in February to discuss a possible compensation scheme. The Blacklist Support Group and Guney Clark & Ryan solicitors for the High Court claim will be at the meeting,

Blacklisting case highlights dangerous loophole

From Hazards Blacklist Blog

A High Court judge had accepted a UCATT safety rep blacklisted for his safety activities was treated unjustly, but has no legal redress because he was an agency employee.

Dave Smith, a founder member of the Blacklist Support Group, was repeatedly dismissed and refused work after his name appeared on The Consulting Association (TCA) blacklist. A large file held by the organisation itemises concerns raised by the safety rep about asbestos, poor toilet facilities and contaminated waste on London and Essex building sites controlled by Carillion companies.
The original employment tribunal case rejected his claim because he was an agency worker and not directly employed by Carillion. This was upheld by an Employment Appeal Tribunal.

National Rank and File Meeting

National Rank & File Construction Workers Meeting  

 

Saturday 1st February

Jurys Inn,

80 Jamaica Street,

Glasgow,

G1 4QG

1pm Start Time

Speakers Include:

Jackson Cullinane - Political Officer, Unite

Dave Smith - Blacklist Support Group

Louise Taggart - Hazard, Scotland

Facebook Group Event

 

Blacklist Support Group

January Newsletter

A few bits and pieces for early January:

1. Blacklist Compensation Scheme

We advise any blacklisted workers to have nothing to do with the employers blacklist compensation scheme - even if you are only interested in financial compensation, the final offer will be considerably better than the human rights abusing companies are offering at the moment. 

National Rank & File Meeting

National Rank & File Construction Workers Meeting  

 

10th August

1pm-4pm 

Conway Hall 

Red  Lion square 

Holborn

London

 

We have come a long way in the past three years, with full UK wide organisation and forcing the 8 biggest M&E contractors in the UK to kick BESNA into touch. 

We are now into the Crossrail dispute and looking to push this industry forward.

First we need to get the agency parasites off of Crossrail then follow that up and rid the whole M&E industry of them. 

 

We want the correct rate for the job with proper overtime rates after 37.5 as stated in the 

National Agreements.

At  Crossrails peak, there will be the need for over 4000 sparks and 1000 fitters. This peak will

last for just over two years.

The choice is yours, continue getting ripped off or demand what we are entitled to

 

Come to the National Rank & File meeting and get involved.

 

 There will be a Crossrail leverage update from Gail Cartmel Unite assistant general secretary.

Election of National Committee and social after.

 

Please do your best to attend please pass on email to fellow M&E workers.

 

Be part of the Solution

 

EMERGENCY RANK AND FILE MEETING

Unite The Union is calling YOU to an EMERGENCY Rank and File meeting to discuss the Crossrail project. We are demanding an agreement and fairness for our members.

In attendance will be the Unites Assistant General Secretary and the Director of Organising and Leverage. The labour forecasts for the Crossrail M&E installation are 4000 electricians and 1500 fitters at a peak which will last 2 years. We are in the middle of the worst recession ever and in 3 years time we will still be in it. This project and the employment standards it achieves will affect us all we need to make sure its set up properly. For the past 3 years Unite The Union has repeatedly asked Crossrail for an agreement on the project.

It is now becoming clear what Crossrails agenda is

What Crossrail want: No Agreement on the project. Agency labour, casual workforce, easy to hire and fire workers paid below JIB rates. Blacklisting of union reps from the project. BESNA 2 to be rolled out with Crown House

What Unite The Union Want: Agreement for the project. NO Agencys, proper Direct employment, no hire and fire, J.I.B. terms and conditions plus enhanced rates for the project. Elected Shop stewards and Safety Reps. No blacklisting. Proper apprenticeships. NO BESNA 2. Respect for its members

Over the last few years we have been treated very badly by the employers. If we don't stand together and demand fairness we will allow the employers to rip us all off again. This project is too big to allow the same mistakes as before, we want what we are entitled.

This is an emergency meeting please do your best to come and email,text and pass on details to colleagues etc 

 

Monday 25th March

Conway Hall, Holburn, London

6:30PM 

 

 

Site Worker - Spring 2013

The New SITE WORKER Magazine is OUT NOW

To get hold of copies to distribute on a site near you, please email your name and address to 

siteworkers@virginmedia.com

Crossrail Update week 2

Accident At Westbourne Park & Crossrail protests spread

The Crossrail protests continued this week. Every day at Westbourne Park the picket has been in full operation. All deliveries have been turned away every day from 6am. Causing disruption to the site management (Bam Ferrovial Kier)

Also this week the protest returned to another BFK-Crossrail site. Tottenham Court Road. For well over an hour, Oxford street was blocked off by a 10ft high/ 20ft wide banners.