Councils Must Take Responsibility For Connaught Workers - UCATT

Officials from construction union UCATT are stepping up pressure on local authorities and housing associations to re-employ workers who have been made redundant following the collapse of social housing contractor Connaught.

It is understood that 1,400 Connaught workers have been made redundant by administrators KPMG since the company collapsed last week. Seven hundred workers were made redundant last Friday with a further 700 being made redundant on Monday.

The largest number of redundancies were in Norwich where 350 workers the entire housing repairs and maintenance staff were made redundant, with immediate effect on Monday.


Many of the affected workers were informed of their fate by conference call, text or by hastily held meetings, that they no longer had jobs.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "These workers have dedicated their lives working for local councils. They have lost their jobs because of no fault of their own. Councils have a moral duty to take these services in house and re-employ the dedicated workforce."

In total, 4,440 workers were affected by the collapse of Connaught. It is understood that 2,500 workers jobs have been saved as many contracts were transferred to Morgan Sindall, while Mears have also acquired several Connaught contracts.

However a lack of information means that many workers are still uncertain about whether their jobs have been saved or not.

Mr Ritchie, added: "Workers have been treated disgracefully and dismissed in the most callous way imaginable. Tenants are now in limbo, not knowing if essential repairs and much needed maintenance will be carried out."

UCATT are now examining several legal options to win justice for the affected workers.

(CD/KMcA)