A joint venture between Costain and Skanska has been accused of union busting at its Bond Street Crossrail station site.
Construction union hit out at the firms over attempts to block a union official from its site.
This comes after an agreement was reached between the client Crossrail and the electrical subcontractors on the project that independent air quality monitoring should take place. It was scheduled to provide reassurance to the workforce after two recent unexplained deaths on the site.
Unite official Guy Langston and the union's two health and safety reps on the project would chose the workers who would have their air quality monitored.
The selected workers were fitted with the independent air monitoring kits on site on Tuesday, 08 October.
However, the following day Mr Langston received an email from Peter Raza, Head of Employee Relations, stating that he had failed to follow the proper protocols of accessing the site (despite being with the client) and also informing him that while Unite's safety reps would be allowed to be in attendance when the results of the monitoring will be delivered, Mr Langston was not invited to attend.
Unite has now written to Mr Raza seeking confirmation that Mr Langston has been excluded from receiving the air quality monitoring results.
Unite national officer Jerry Swain said: "Costain and Skanska have sunk to a new low.
"While Unite's official has been going the extra mile to ensure that workers are reassured about their safety, following recent tragic events, there primary focus is to continue their union busting.
"Unite's official accompanied the client Crossrail for an inspection of the site, to provide reassurance to CSJV's workforce for which he is upbraided.
"Excluding the union official from attending the results of the air quality monitoring testing is only going to further unsettle the workforce and make it appear there is something to hide.
"Crossrail and the electrical subcontractors have been exemplary in their conduct during this tragic time and have done a huge amount to restore confidence in the workforce, the same cannot be said for CSJV.
"CSJV's union busting at Bond Street risks causing further industrial relations issues especially during this time of heightened concerns.
"Crossrail as the client needs to pull its contractor CSJV into line if it wishes to avoid further potential delays."
(CM/JG)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
11/10/2019
'Union Busting' Accusation Thrown At Bond Street Crossrail Contractors
Latest Construction News
22/11/2024
GMI Construction Group has reached a major milestone ahead of schedule in the construction of a £15.7 million waste-to-energy facility in County Durham. The steel framework of the 75,000 sq ft high-temperature thermal treatment plant has been completed, marking significant progress in the ...
22/11/2024
Cure has secured planning permission for a large new residential development in Keynsham, located along Bath Road. The project will deliver 208 homes designed with energy efficiency, community living, and sustainability in mind. The development will include a mix of 168 houses and 40 flats, with ...
22/11/2024
Morgan Sindall Construction has completed the restoration of West Bromwich Town Hall and Library, revitalising the iconic Grade II listed building for the community. Delivered five weeks ahead of schedule, the project preserves the historic site's architectural heritage while ensuring its future ...
22/11/2024
British Steel has unveiled a state-of-the-art rail stocking facility at its headquarters in Scunthorpe, marking a £10-million investment to bolster the UK's rail infrastructure. The new hub is the largest of its kind in the country and is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the rail ...
22/11/2024
Manchester City Council is seeking developers to transform a surplus multi-storey car park on Church Street into a landmark project in the heart of the city's iconic Northern Quarter. Named St Paul's, after the historic church that once stood on the site, the 1.54-acre (0.62-hectare) location ...
22/11/2024
A £500,000 project to refurbish the gateway to Tadcaster is set to begin next month, aimed at enhancing the town's appeal to visitors and supporting local businesses. The improvements will focus on upgrading the bus station, public toilets, and adding visitor amenities to make the area more ...
22/11/2024
Wandsworth Council has approved plans for 50% affordable housing. The changes to the local plan would require developers to deliver 50% affordable housing on all new schemes, with a majority to be council housing. The Local Plan formalises how the council works with developers to create and ...
22/11/2024
Homebuilder Thakeham has handed over the first nine homes at its Holmhurst St Mary development near Hastings, East Sussex, to Southern Housing. Addressing the need for affordable homes in the local community, Holmhurst Gardens is a 100% affordable housing scheme comprising both homes for rent and ...
22/11/2024
Thames Water has announced the completion of a £9.7 million upgrade to Benson Sewage Treatment Works, boosting its capacity and improving environmental outcomes. The project, which began in June 2022, was finished at the end of 2023 and has increased the site's treatment capacity by 29%, from 58 ...
22/11/2024
Dean Clough, the award-winning, 22-acre mixed use commercial destination in Halifax, has agreed new deals to let regional office space to two global operators. Severn Glocon, a global leader in industrial valve engineering and manufacturing, has secured a 2,460 sq ft of office space in Crossley ...