Skip to content or view screen version

Bob Crow to Address Laing O'Rourke Workers Refusing Contract

Ewa J | 25.10.2004 23:10

The General Secretary of the RMT addresses workers from the Channel Tunnel Rail Extension Link who are refusing Laing O'Rourke's 'Contrick' of a contract. Workers will elect shop stewards and re-affirm their opposition to Laing's unacceptable pay and conditions deal. The meeting is to be held in the park oppositte the worksite at lunchtime. 200 workers are expected to attend

When? Tuesday October 26th

What time? 2pm

Where? 2pm in the park opposite the Channel Tunnel Rail Link 105 Scheme site, Phoenix Road, London NW1 Nearest tubes/BR Kings Cross or Euston

Why?

Workers employed by construction giant Laing O’Rourke are refusing the company’s new pay and conditions deal. Under the new contract or ‘contrick’ as it has been renamed by workers, pay will be halved, bonuses will be decided by management, a day off must be planned 40 days in advance and holiday pay could be cut by £20 per day for each worker. Management has told workers they will be sacked if they do not sign. Construction union UCAAT has told workers to sign the contract despite tere having been no ballot and no full viewing of the contract itself. The GMB union has been barred off the site, in contravention of construction industry agreements.

Workers at the following sites have all refused to sign and potentially face the sack: Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Kings Cross and Kent sites; Canary Wharf redevelopment scheme; Newham Hospital, London; Terminal 5, Heathrow, Middlesex; Ascot Racecourse Redevelopment Scheme, Berkshire; Paradise Street Development, Liverpool; Gatwick Airport, Sussex; John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford; and construction projects for Police stations & facilities for the Greater Manchester Police Authority, Manchester.

Walk-outs and wildcat strikes are expected as more workers stand up to the Laing O’Rourke contrick. Come down to the site and support the workers....

Ewa J