黑洞社区

A year-long row over alleged blacklisting on the 拢15bn Crossrail project was brought to a conclusion this week with an agreement which will see the sacked worker at the centre of the dispute given his job back.

Following a high-profile lobbying campaign mounted by Britain鈥檚 largest union Unite against Crossrail joint venture contractor Bam Ferrovial Kier (BFK), the two parties announced they had resolved the dispute, which arose after Frank Morris, an electrician, was dismissed from the his role on tunnelling work in Westbourne Park last September.

Both parties said they had agreed 鈥渢here has been no contravention of the blacklisting regulations on the BFK Crossrail projects鈥�.

Morris鈥� (pictured) dismissal sparked a major protest and an employment tribunal, amid allegations that he had been the victim of blacklisting after raising safety concerns on Europe鈥檚 largest construction project - a claim strenuously denied by Crossrail and BFK.

黑洞社区 understands that the deal struck between BFK and Unite will see Morris handed a new electrician鈥檚 role on Crossrail鈥檚 Liverpool Street station project.

In a joint statement, Unite and BFK said they had 鈥渟uccessfully concluded matters鈥� and would work closely together to provide 鈥渢ransparent working practices鈥�, including safeguarding the right of workers to join a trade union.

This comes less than two months after business secretary Vince Cable asked the information watchdog to investigate allegations about blacklisting by BFK on Crossrail, following what a House of Commons select committee called 鈥渃lear proof鈥� it was taking place. The Information Commissioner鈥檚

Office this week said it was continuing to investigate alleged blacklisting on Crossrail.

This week it also emerged that one of the key figures working for BFK who was linked with the blacklisting body The Consulting Association has left the project.

黑洞社区 revealed in March that Pat Swift, formerly the human resources (HR) contact at Bam Nuttall for blacklist compiler Ian Kerr, was working as BFK鈥檚 HR manager. Swift left BFK last week.

A spokesperson for Bam Nuttall said the timing of his departure was coincidental, adding: 鈥淗e has retired - there鈥檚 no ulterior motive.鈥�

Meanwhile the Scottish Affairs Select Committee resumed its investigation into the practice this week, hearing evidence from Peter Cheese, the chief executive the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the world鈥檚 largest professional association for HR.

Cheese told the committee that the CIPD was investigating 19 members who work in HR positions in construction over their alleged involvement in blacklisting.