黑洞社区

The GMB union is pushing for talks with Laing O鈥橰ourke over the contractor鈥檚 plan to directly employ more than 6000 of its workers who are currently on short-term contracts.

The move comes after more than 100 staff on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project at King鈥檚 Cross voted to reject the firm鈥檚 proposals.

Under Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 plan, all workers would be given a lifelong learning programme and full employment rights.

The GMB is understood to be frustrated that Laing O鈥橰ourke is talking to UCATT about the proposed changes to workers鈥� contracts and has excluded other unions from negotiations.

Phil Davies, the GMB鈥檚 national construction officer, is writing to Alan Ritchie, UCATT boss, and Bob Blackman, the T&G鈥檚 construction officer, to press for talks between Laing O鈥橰ourke and all three unions.

One GMB insider said the union had been disappointed to learn about Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 talks with UCATT through the press. He said: 鈥淭here are GMB members within the company and certain things arising from the Laing proposals that members are not happy with and need representation on.鈥�

The GMB insider said it had four shop stewards on site at the CTRL project and that the stewards would be passing on workers鈥� disapproval to the union鈥檚 national officials.

The insider added: 鈥淭he advice to the members is to not sign any contracts until they have been looked at by a union representative. The workforce has problems with bonus payments, lodge allowances, and working time procedures.鈥�

Dissatisfaction among workers has been made worse by differences in the terms and conditions of O鈥橰ourke workers and those who came to the firm when it bought John Laing.

The source said: 鈥淩ay O鈥橰ourke is trying to harmonise the contracts of his staff, but he is meeting resistance from workers who want to remain flexible and not on the cards.鈥�

Laing O鈥橰ourke set up a task group in September to put the plans into action.

Laing O鈥橰ourke was unavailable for comment.