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| Unite calls for national action over Crossrail blacklisting allegations | Unite calls for national action over Crossrail blacklisting allegations |
| (4 months later) | |
| The UK's biggest trade union is locked in a multimillion-pound fight with the bosses of Crossrail, the largest engineering project in Europe, over claims workers have been "blacklisted" after raising legitimate health and safety concerns. | The UK's biggest trade union is locked in a multimillion-pound fight with the bosses of Crossrail, the largest engineering project in Europe, over claims workers have been "blacklisted" after raising legitimate health and safety concerns. |
| Unite leader Len McCluskey has launched a national mobilisation against Crossrail consortium Bam Ferrovial Kier (BFK), which has included more than 350 UK protests in the past three weeks, with a thousand more planned over the next six months. | Unite leader Len McCluskey has launched a national mobilisation against Crossrail consortium Bam Ferrovial Kier (BFK), which has included more than 350 UK protests in the past three weeks, with a thousand more planned over the next six months. |
| Crossrail denies the claims and the test of strength between the two industrial heavyweights is shaping up to be one of the most significant disputes of recent years. | Crossrail denies the claims and the test of strength between the two industrial heavyweights is shaping up to be one of the most significant disputes of recent years. |
| "It's clear that blacklisting activity is continuing at Crossrail," McCluskey told the Guardian. "Blacklisting is a national scandal – it ruins lives and has no place in a modern society." | "It's clear that blacklisting activity is continuing at Crossrail," McCluskey told the Guardian. "Blacklisting is a national scandal – it ruins lives and has no place in a modern society." |
| Allegations that workers on the £15bn project were victimised for raising safety issues have been backed by a former electrician on the project. Frank Morris is raising an employment tribunal and "blacklisting test case" over claims he was dismissed from his job on Crossrail last September after voicing safety concerns. | Allegations that workers on the £15bn project were victimised for raising safety issues have been backed by a former electrician on the project. Frank Morris is raising an employment tribunal and "blacklisting test case" over claims he was dismissed from his job on Crossrail last September after voicing safety concerns. |
| The tribunal is on hold as EIS, one of the companies involved, has gone into liquidation, but, with Unite's backing, Morris is applying for permission to proceed to the high court. | The tribunal is on hold as EIS, one of the companies involved, has gone into liquidation, but, with Unite's backing, Morris is applying for permission to proceed to the high court. |
| Morris, 38, has been an electrician for 18 years and claims he was dismissed after becoming a union representative on the project. | Morris, 38, has been an electrician for 18 years and claims he was dismissed after becoming a union representative on the project. |
| "After almost 20 years of being an electrician I can't do anything else … I want my life back," he said. | "After almost 20 years of being an electrician I can't do anything else … I want my life back," he said. |
| BFK referred questions to Crossrail, which said the consortium denied Morris's claims, stating that he and 28 other workers who were employed by EIS were laid off once that section of work had been completed. | BFK referred questions to Crossrail, which said the consortium denied Morris's claims, stating that he and 28 other workers who were employed by EIS were laid off once that section of work had been completed. |
| However, a letter from the boss of EIS, Ron Turner, sent to the Unite union and seen by the Guardian, appears to dispute this. | However, a letter from the boss of EIS, Ron Turner, sent to the Unite union and seen by the Guardian, appears to dispute this. |
| Dated 13 September 2012, shortly after BFK's decision to cancel EIS's contract, Turner wrote: "I firmly believe that the decision to cancel my contract was driven by BFK wanting to remove Mr Morris from the project." | Dated 13 September 2012, shortly after BFK's decision to cancel EIS's contract, Turner wrote: "I firmly believe that the decision to cancel my contract was driven by BFK wanting to remove Mr Morris from the project." |
| The letter also claimed a number of EIS workers, including Morris, had been treated "extremely unfairly" by BFK managers. | The letter also claimed a number of EIS workers, including Morris, had been treated "extremely unfairly" by BFK managers. |
| Crossrail said the consortium denied the claims. A spokesman added: "All contractors working on Crossrail must comply with the law, which explicitly outlaws this practice [blacklisting]. Crossrail has made clear to the trades unions that we will take firm, decisive and immediate action if any substantive evidence is presented. To date, none has been forthcoming, despite repeated requests." | Crossrail said the consortium denied the claims. A spokesman added: "All contractors working on Crossrail must comply with the law, which explicitly outlaws this practice [blacklisting]. Crossrail has made clear to the trades unions that we will take firm, decisive and immediate action if any substantive evidence is presented. To date, none has been forthcoming, despite repeated requests." |
| McCluskey insisted workers were being victimised because of union activity. "Time and time again Unite has called on BFK to work constructively with us to implement a union agreement to deliver stability and safety. Instead BFK refuses to engage with us, even though we have significant evidence of blacklisting and there have been a series of unacceptable and avoidable incidents, with one worker being left with severe burns across his body." | McCluskey insisted workers were being victimised because of union activity. "Time and time again Unite has called on BFK to work constructively with us to implement a union agreement to deliver stability and safety. Instead BFK refuses to engage with us, even though we have significant evidence of blacklisting and there have been a series of unacceptable and avoidable incidents, with one worker being left with severe burns across his body." |
| Tunnelling on Crossrail is expected to be completed next year, in preparation for the 2018 launch of rail services from Maidenhead and Heathrow through central London to the City and further east. | Tunnelling on Crossrail is expected to be completed next year, in preparation for the 2018 launch of rail services from Maidenhead and Heathrow through central London to the City and further east. |
| Last month the project hit a major milestone when a tunnelling machine that has been burrowing its way under London for six months broke through at Canary Wharf. | Last month the project hit a major milestone when a tunnelling machine that has been burrowing its way under London for six months broke through at Canary Wharf. |
| The issue of blacklisting in the construction industry was brought to light in 2009 when it emerged that more than half of the country's leading construction firms were using a list – with more than 3,000 names on it – run by the Consulting Association. Firms paid an annual £3,000-a-year subscription plus £2.20 for each blacklist check. | The issue of blacklisting in the construction industry was brought to light in 2009 when it emerged that more than half of the country's leading construction firms were using a list – with more than 3,000 names on it – run by the Consulting Association. Firms paid an annual £3,000-a-year subscription plus £2.20 for each blacklist check. |
| The information commissioner carried out the original investigation and David Clancy, its investigations manager and a former police officer, said some of information he recovered from the Consulting Association list "could only" have come from the police or security services. | The information commissioner carried out the original investigation and David Clancy, its investigations manager and a former police officer, said some of information he recovered from the Consulting Association list "could only" have come from the police or security services. |
| Unions say that many workers on the list were forced into destitution with little or no pension provision as work dried up. Last week GMB lodged claims in the high court for compensation on behalf of 70 construction workers whose names were on the list. The union says the workers had job prospects and reputations ruined, and is lodging claims of defamation. The GMB says the 70 people it is representing are just "the tip of the iceberg", with more than 3,000 other workers with claims. | Unions say that many workers on the list were forced into destitution with little or no pension provision as work dried up. Last week GMB lodged claims in the high court for compensation on behalf of 70 construction workers whose names were on the list. The union says the workers had job prospects and reputations ruined, and is lodging claims of defamation. The GMB says the 70 people it is representing are just "the tip of the iceberg", with more than 3,000 other workers with claims. |
| Unite claims some of the surviving companies that used the Consulting Association now work on the Crossrail project. And some of the individuals who acted as contacts for the Consulting Association now work for contractors engaged on Crossrail. | Unite claims some of the surviving companies that used the Consulting Association now work on the Crossrail project. And some of the individuals who acted as contacts for the Consulting Association now work for contractors engaged on Crossrail. |
| Crossrail said it required its contractors to maintain "good and constructive industrial relations" and "resolve any concerns raised by trade unions". It said it had asked for and received assurances from all its principal contractors confirming that none "have engaged in any blacklisting activity on the Crossrail project". | Crossrail said it required its contractors to maintain "good and constructive industrial relations" and "resolve any concerns raised by trade unions". It said it had asked for and received assurances from all its principal contractors confirming that none "have engaged in any blacklisting activity on the Crossrail project". |
| A spokesman added: "The use of the Consulting Association by the construction industry to blacklist construction workers was indefensible. Crossrail Limited is not aware of, and has seen no evidence of, blacklisting of any kind in connection with the Crossrail project." | A spokesman added: "The use of the Consulting Association by the construction industry to blacklist construction workers was indefensible. Crossrail Limited is not aware of, and has seen no evidence of, blacklisting of any kind in connection with the Crossrail project." |
| McCluskey said too many construction workers and their families had "suffered just because they had concerns over health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries, or just because they belonged to a trade union". | McCluskey said too many construction workers and their families had "suffered just because they had concerns over health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries, or just because they belonged to a trade union". |
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