The JLE was blighted in the late nineties by industrial relations unrest led by a militant band of sparks.

Many disappeared from the industry or kept a low profile on smaller sites in the wake of a series of bitter disputes.

But the Enquirer understands that a number of former JLE electricians are now looking to work on London’s Crossrail.

That will raise fears of site disputes as the job moves towards the M&E fit-out phase as tunneling is completed.

One industrial relations expert said: “Things have been going alright on Crossrail. But that was also the case on the JLE during the tunneling work.

“The problems comes at the fit-out stage when you are dealing with electricians.”

The Enquirer understands that Unite officials are already concerned about the employment status of M&E workers on Crossrail.

One union source said: “There are firms down there working outside the JIB agreement and employing most of their people through payroll companies.

“That’s not in the spirit of the project and it also opens the door to anyone to get a start on the job because people don’t check backgrounds – they just want numbers on the job.”

A Unite spokesman confirmed the union was investigating employment status complaints on the project.

Another observer said: “It would be Crossrail’s worst nightmare to let some of the JLE lads on the site.

“But it will be very difficult to refuse people work in light of the blacklist scandal

“The JLE sparks know how to organise workers on a job and can make things very tricky.”

A spokesperson for Crossrail said: “Crossrail requires and supports regular employment status wherever possible.

“Many workers in the construction industry are engaged as self-employed or operate under service company status even if the worker is solely employed on a project for a significant period of time.

“Crossrail views this as a negative trend as it can impede the provision of the high level of assurance around training, development and safety which is required by the project.

“All Crossrail’s principal contractors are aware of their contractual obligations regarding regular employment status.

“The conditions of Crossrail’s construction contracts also oblige all contractors to implement policies to ensure that employers pay wages that meet national legal standards and industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher.

“Most of our principal contractors are signatories to one or more of the national collective agreements which govern employment terms and conditions in construction.”
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