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Laing O'Rourke Workers Strike

Features | 05.11.2004 23:00 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements

Workers employed by construction giant Laing O'Rourke have refused to sign a new pay and condition deal which halves their pay, while making it so that the pay is subsidised by bonuses, but the company can choose to whom they can give bonuses, in which their holiday pay is cut by £20 per day, and where they will have to bring in a medical certificate after being absent for one day.

Reports: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Photos: [1] [2]
See also: Schnews, Labournet.

Sign Your Rights Away Today
Sign Your Rights Away Today


They have not been allowed by management to see the contract in full, and they have been told that they will lose their jobs if they do not sign it. Workers from many sites have refused to sign, without the backing of their union UCATT. Steve Hedley, RMT member, and Joint Sites Commitee activist has said:

"What the hell is a discretionary bonus? How can your union sign up to something that your boss can decide whether or not he is going to pay? It's fine to go back on the cards but if were strong and stick together we can stop this. We are the ones who are doing the job."

Workers at the site near King's cross requested the presence of GMB (major general worker's union) representative, Steve Kelly. Managers, however threw him off the site. The GMB's position on the contract is somewhat different to that of UCATT: they have advised their members not to sign the contract until they have seen all of it.

Already workers have been active. Earlier this month, at the King's cross site, when Steve Hedley was sacked unfairly, 100 workers walked off in support. Last week, over 200 workers at the site near King's cross attended a lunchtime meeting and elected workshop stewards.

On Friday, November 5th there was a solidarity protest. This included a samba band.

Other recent examples of activity over pay and conditions have been the the ongoing civil service strike, which included action on Friday, November 5th, and the protest in favour of justice for the Canary Wharf cleaners.

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UPDATE - GMB Allowed on Site + Meeting this Thursday

08.11.2004 04:13

This is the text of the leaflet being given to workers at Laing O'Rourke sites across London. All folks concerned in supporting the Laing ORourke workers and fighting for workers rights, please come to the meeting this Thursday:

CTRL WORKERS KICK LAING O’ROURKES “CONTRICK” INTO TOUCH

WORKERS AT THE CTRL (CHANNEL TUNNEL) IN KINGS CROSS LONDON HAVE FORCED MANAGERS TO RECOGNISE THE GMB UNION BY HOLDING A SIT IN PROTEST IN THEIR CANTEEN.WITH A SAMBA BAND OUTSIDE PLAYING IN ENCOURAGEMENT IT TOOK THE MANAGERS EXACTLY HALF AN HOUR TO SEE SENSE AND AGREE TO TALK TO THE GMB

THE KINGS CROSS WORKERS REFUSED TO TAKE HUGE BASIC PAY REDUCTIONS,CUTS IN OVERTIME RATES AND DISCRETIONARY BONUSES LYING DOWN THEY STOOD UP AND HAVE WON THE FIRST ROUND IN THE CONTEST TO RENEGOTIATE THE NEW CONTRACT.

MEANWHILE UCATT’S EX GENERAL SECRETARY GEORGE BRUMWELL HAS MET WITH LAING O’ROURKES MANAGEMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE CONTRACT CHANGED.WERE GLAD GEORGE HAS BEEN CONVERTED AFTER ALL HE SIGNED OFF THE DEAL TO BEGIN WITH AND UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO SOME OF UCATT OFFICALS WERE TRYING TO SELL THE DEAL AS THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD

IT IS NOW ESSENTIAL THAT ALL LAING O’ROURKES WORKERS HAVE LUNCHTIME MEETING TO ORGANIZE FOR THE RENEGOTIATION OF THE CONTRACT.

THE NEW CONTRACT EFFECTS PAYE AND CIS WORKERS BY FOLLOWING KINGS CROSS EXAMPLE TOGETHER WE CAN WIN.


There should be a national ballot of all Laing O’Rourkes workers to reject the deal

If there is going to be a new contract, then we demand:
• NO CUT IN TAKE HOME PAY
• NO COMPLICATED DISCRETIONARY BONUS SCHEME
• FULL HOLIDAY PAY (BASED ON AVERAGE TAKE HOME)
• FULL SICK PAY
• PENSION SCHEME
• REDUNDANCY PAY
• EFFECTIVE START DATE FOR EVERYBODY SHOULD BE WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED WORKING FOR LAING O’ROURKES NOT WHEN WE SIGN THE RENEGOTIATED CONTRACT

PUBLIC MEETING 730pm THURSDAY 11th October at the cock TAVERN PHEONIX RD EUSTON NWI INVITED SPEAKERS JMC DONALD MP, LOCAL COUNCILLORS, LOCAL TENNANTS ASSOCIATION AND THE GMB UNION

Solidarity