Union activists hold the key to the problems in construction
22nd May 2009
Unite the union will be bringing together activists and union
officials from across the construction industry for a national
summit to fight for the right to work and to be paid properly.
Following the latest wave of unofficial action in the
construction sector, senior union activists are calling for a
national strategy to address the root causes of industrial unrest.
The key to resolving the current problems lies with union shop
stewards, not with extremist political parties trying to hijack the
agenda without offering any solutions.
Les Bayliss, Unite assistant general secretary, said: "Union
activists hold the key to resolving the serious problems in the
construction industry. We are not opposed and never have been
opposed to workers from outside the UK working on UK construction
projects. However, Unite will not accept employers turning worker
against worker to undermine wages, terms and conditions, health and
safety and skill levels. These are all rights that trade unionists
have fought long and hard for, while ultra right wing groups did
nothing but stoke hatred in our towns and cities. They offer no
solutions."
The union will also be putting the role of energy providers at
the top of the agenda.
Unite believes the energy companies have a responsibility to
ensure their contractors treat UK workers fairly. Recent waves of
unofficial action and demonstrations have been taking place at
construction sites belonging to the energy providers. But the
workers' anger and frustration because of exclusion and regular
breeches of the national agreement, has so far been focused on the
contractors employed by the energy companies.
Unite believes it is now time for the energy providers to take
responsibility for the contractors and sub-contractors and insist
that the contractors give UK workers fair access to work and that
the national agreement is honoured.
Unite's assistant general secretary, Les Bayliss, added: "It’s
time to turn our attention to one of the root causes of the unrest
in construction. The energy providers choose the contractors and
they must take responsibility when the contractors break the
national agreement or exclude UK construction workers from
construction projects.
"Power companies will be charging us for electricity and gas and
making a lot of money. It is unacceptable that they should allow
contractors to exclude UK workers from building UK power
stations."
ENDS
Contact Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
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