Former Ucatt president John Flavin dies aged 78

Grant Prior 3 years ago
Share

Former construction union Ucatt president John Flavin died yesterday aged 78.

John Flavin: 1944-2022
John Flavin: 1944-2022

Flavin served at every level in the construction union bar general secretary and was a ferocious defender of workers’ rights.

He died peacefully at home with his family after a long battle with lung cancer brought on by exposure to asbestos during his time on site.

Flavin was born in Ireland in Ballylongford, County Kerry, in 1944 .He was a member of the Kerry minor team that won the All-Ireland football final in 1962.

The following year he emigrated to London and started working as a tunnel miner and scaffolder for a series of major contractors.

In 1967 he joined Ucatt, which is now part of Unite, and celebrated 50 years membership in 2017.

Flavin fought throughout his union career to

He was a skilled negotiator and a familiar face in legendary West End construction industry hangouts Langan’s Brasserie and Mulligans brokering deals with the major contractors of the day.

After leaving high office at Ucatt Flavin was an influential figure in the rise of Laing O’Rourke.

He was a trusted confidant of Ray O’Rourke and a sage advisor during the firm’s rapid growth in his role as group executive of industrial relations.

On a personal note, John was fantastic company and a pleasure to spend time with and his passing will be a great loss for many people across the industry.

Latest news

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
58 minutes ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
7 hours ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
7 hours ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
7 hours ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
1 day ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
7 hours ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
6 hours ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
15 hours ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
1 day ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
1 day ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
1 day ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
2 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
2 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
1 day ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
2 days ago

Major Building Safety Regulator shake-up to end tower delays

HSE stripped of control and top fire chiefs brought in to fast-track stalled schemes
2 days ago

Hinkley trio sign Sizewell civils deal

Balfour,Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke form Civil Works Alliance for new power station
2 days ago

£3.9bn data centre plan for Ravenscraig steelworks

Green energy to power massive new steel to silicon AI campus
2 days ago

Breakthrough on HS2’s second longest tunnel

8.4 mile Northolt to Old Oak Common drive completes
2 days ago

Neilcott on fast-track to debt-free employee ownership

£22.5m loan nearly paid down after big profit year
2 days ago

TfL kicks off race for £700m Tube station upgrade

South Kensington and Elephant & Castle top the pipeline list
2 days ago

Corbyn Plant Hire fleet goes under the hammer

Kit to be sold off by sister firm to collapsed groundworks contractor
2 days ago

Government wields procurement stick on late payment

New rules would block slow payers from bidding on big public jobs
5 days ago

Hercules buys power line labour firm for £15.7m

Labour supply specialist snaps up Advantage NRG to tap booming electricity upgrade market
5 days ago

Universal bid to fast-track planning for theme park

Entertainment giant eyes 2026 start at Bedford site
5 days ago

Developer Breck to transform former Ibstock brick factory

Ravenhead works to become 300-home development
5 days ago

SP Energy Networks awards contracts worth £1.4bn

First round of awards under £5.4bn national electricity grid upgrade programme
6 days ago

Travelodge to convert Liverpool Street office building

Office-to-hotel conversion in City of London
5 days ago

Plans lodged for 1m sq ft City of London office

Barbican landmark building will reuse 40% of existing structure
6 days ago

PTSG acquires roofing specialist HD Sharman Group

Premier Technical Services Group expands building maintenance division
5 days ago