MP claims construction workers are still being blacklisted

Grant Prior 8 years ago
Share

Labour MP Chuka Umunna has claimed blacklisting of workers is still a problem on Crossrail.

His claims came in a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday when Umunna said workers on the project have been blacklisted for raising safety concerns.

The industry vowed to put the blacklisting scandal behind it following compensation payments of more than £50m to hundreds of historic victims.

But Umunna produced evidence of ongoing victimisation – which has been denied by Crossrail.

He said: “The first case concerns emails that I have been passed which were circulated between contractors and the employee relations department at Crossrail which detail questionable surveillance of workers that took place at a peaceful demonstration at a Crossrail site in 2016.

“The evidence which I will supply after this debate to the minister illustrates that a number of construction workers were being closely watched there and sensitive personal information was being collected in relation to them.

“Two of the workers concerned who were subject to that surveillance have since sought to obtain further employment on Crossrail and did so through agencies advertising positions.

“However as soon as they relayed their names there was a delay and then they were subsequently given an excuse as to why the positions have been filled.

“One sub-contractor has actually told Unite that the consequences of him employing a Unite member would be the refusal of future work and for obvious reasons the subcontractor does not wish to disclose their identity.”

Umunna raised a second case of an electrician, who has been seeking work in the industry since “raising a grievance whilst working on Crossrail. He has since applied for hundreds of job vacancies almost always being turned down.”

The worker served Crossrail with a subject access request and Mr Umunna has been given a copy of those documents.

Umunna, said: They reveal Crossrail and three of its contractors exchanging sensitive personal data concerning this individual’s previous employment, and the issues and grievances he had raised there.

“On the face of it the data appears to be processed for the purpose of determining the individual’s suitability for employment related to his trade union activities.

“The very strong inference from the documents is that some kind of vetting operation was in operation between Crossrail, its contractors and the agencies involved.”

A spokesperson for Crossrail said: “Crossrail Limited is not aware of, and has seen no evidence of, blacklisting of any kind in connection with the Crossrail project.

“Crossrail seeks to maintain good relations with the trades unions and meets with them on a regular basis.

“In our recent meetings with Unite no such concerns have been raised with us. Indeed Unite has previously issued a joint statement with a Crossrail contractor noting that there has been no contravention of the blacklisting regulations on Crossrail.”

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “Contemporary blacklisting is occurring in construction. The companies concerned have learned nothing from the Consulting Association scandal.

“Construction will only finally rid itself of the stench of blacklisting when effective laws are introduced which bar blacklisters from public sector contracts, effective anti-blacklisting laws are introduced which make it a criminal offence and there is a full public inquiry into the practice.”

Blacklist campaigners are now calling for Sir Robert McAlpine to be removed from the £29m Big Ben refurbishment contract.

McAlpine said it has “a zero tolerance policy towards blacklisting, illegal or unfair recruitment practices.” and that “blacklisting has no place now nor in the future at Sir Robert McAlpine.

Latest news

Wates raids Laing O’Rourke for new construction operations chief

George Mosey leaves Laing O'Rourke after 16 years
12 hours ago

Travis Perkins CEO Pete Redfern steps down due to ill health

Redfern joined builders' merchant last year after 14 years at Taylor Wimpey
16 hours ago

Glencar to build timber-framed office block

Work to start next month on 79,200 sq ft scheme in Maidenhead
19 hours ago

Shed specialist Marbank files administration notice

£67m turnover portal-framed building specialist files court notice
23 hours ago

Birmingham council submits £1bn Druids Heath plan

High rise estate to be replaced by-3,500 home eco village
23 hours ago

Cannabis farm gang posed as utilities contractor

Gang jailed for 28 years after diverting power to more than 100 cannabis farms
3 days ago

Firm fined after workers climb scaffold without ladder

HSE investigation prompted by death on Liverpool site
22 hours ago

Clancy renews £250m Southern Water deal

Contractor vows to maximise value for money and minimise disruption
22 hours ago

McLaren go-ahead for 314 flats Watford scheme

Police station and magistrates court to be demolished
1 day ago

Former Liverpool mayor charged in building contracts probe

Construction bosses also charged as part of Operation Aloft
4 days ago

Bidding to start for £700m Irish sea interconnector work

Work includes converter stations at Hunterston and Kilroot near Belfast
4 days ago

Muse to redevelop Durham County Hall HQ site

Morgan Sindall regen specialist seals another major development deal
4 days ago

Mace to transform Imperial College Great Hall

Work to start next month on ambitious refit
4 days ago

£100m plan to regenerate former Digbeth ironworks

Hartwell unveils 260,000 sq ft office and 240 homs plan
4 days ago

Legendre UK wins £21m London homes job for Clarion

Tower Hamlets building to be replaced due to building and fire safety issues
4 days ago

Construction buyers report fastest downturn since 2020

Double whammy of decreasing new orders and delayed projects
5 days ago

Bidders day for £15bn schools alliance framework

Online event to set out details of DfE alliancing framework procurement plan
5 days ago

MPs told safety regulator delays forcing industry job cuts

Industry chief warns housing select committee that BSR is now a main block on meeting housing targets
5 days ago

£600m delivery partner named for new hospital programme

Mace/T&T JV named programme delivery partner for £37bn new hospital plan
6 days ago

£230m Southampton waterfront scheme approved

Town Quay includes trio of 25 storey towers around new marina
5 days ago

Planning green light for £10bn Northumberland data centre

Blackstone-backed project will create 1,200 construction jobs
6 days ago

Bauhaus block above Southwark Station gets green light

Student accommodation and affordable housing scheme replaces original office plan
5 days ago

Police arrest plant hire fraud gang

Nine arrests after kit hired "with no intent of ever returning the machines"
6 days ago

Balfour Beatty boss Leo Quinn to step down

Group Chief Executive to be replaced by consultant AtkinsRéalis chief Philip Hoare
6 days ago

Galliford Try upgrades target as half-year profits jump 54%

Firm closes in on deal to take on ISG custodial work
6 days ago

Trespasser dies in crane fall at Willmott Dixon site

Tragedy after man breaks into £60m Manchester science park site
6 days ago

Ibstock pulls out of GRC cladding market

Materials giant blames subcontractor failures and low margins
6 days ago

Green light for 1,000-home Wolverhampton city centre regen

Phase one of ECF Smithgate scheme to start this year
6 days ago

Oval revises Manchester scheme with trio of towers

Flats doubled to 800 at reworked Albert Bridge House project
6 days ago

More repair work needed at McAlpine problem panel hotel

Contractor looking for long-term solution to loose panels
6 days ago

Contractor services