Construction directors face doorstep protests

Grant Prior 10 years ago
Share

Leaders of the Unite union are vowing to continue their campaign of direct action against construction bosses during industrial relations disputes.

The pledge comes as the Enquirer can reveal the full scope of Unite’s controversial tactics which could be used to disrupt major jobs like the new Hinkley nuclear power plant.

A 360-page dossier seen by the Enquirer details a recent campaign waged against construction bosses on the Crossrail project in a dispute over alleged blacklisting by the Bam/Ferrovial/Kier joint venture.

The report details individual directors of the firms and calls for demonstrations outside their homes and offices.

It also suggests targeting key clients, suppliers and subcontractors and outlines a policy to “attack Kier”.

The report states: “Kier are the smallest of the three target companies and the only company whose HQ is in Britain, making them vulnerable to sustained lawful action.

“Any threat to Crossrail contracts is serious for Kier – lawful demonstrations at key BFK contracts would cause genuine concern.”

The strategy added Unite should “seek to isolate and target Kier wherever possible.”

The dossier was drawn-up by Unite’s National Organising and Leverage Department

The group honed its tactics during the BESNA dispute in the M&E industry last year when contractors caved-in after protests outside clients’ offices and the homes of company directors.

It has since been successful at Crossrail and hit the headlines again last month following a campaign of direct against managers during the Grangemouth oil refinery dispute.

One industrial relations expert said: “Unite activists know these tactics work and are not going to stop using them.

“They will target anyone to get a result so you could see flashpoints all over the country.

“Hinkley is an obvious one because it is such a high-profile job.”

Unite leader Len McCluskey is adamant that “leverage” tactics are here to say.

He said: “The most important thing to say about Unite’s leverage strategy is this:  Leverage has worked.  Leverage has won.

“It won at BESNA and it won at Crossrail.

“That is why it is now being attacked – because it is working.

“Leverage is about telling the bad bosses that they have nowhere to hide, challenging their conduct with shareholders, with clients and customers.”

 

Latest news

Six civils clients to switch to low carbon concrete and steel

National Highways, Northumbrian Water and Sellafield sign fresh decarbonising pledge
7 hours ago

Kier wins £118m civil service Darlington hub

Work is expected to start towards the end of this year
10 hours ago

LHC starts race for major retrofit and decarb framework

Hunt starts for firms to help with 6.1m social homes upgrade target
14 hours ago

Windows giant Everest crashes into administration

Around 350 jobs at risk while hunt starts for a buyer to salvage business
15 hours ago

Green light for £500m Newcastle health complex

Mixed use scheme will promote healthy living across all stages of life
14 hours ago

Olympian Homes gets go-ahead for Bristol’s tallest building

Work on student and co-living towers to start this summer
14 hours ago

ISG gets nod to start £20m Glamorgan school job

Ysgol y Deri specialist needs school is to built at Cosmeston, near Penarth
14 hours ago

Walker Modular lands £5m bathroom pod contract

Specialist to work with Graham and Watkin Jones on major build-to-rent scheme
14 hours ago
Walker Modular Limited

Banned building boss jailed for fraud

Court hears how disqualified director siphoned off cash from new housing company
14 hours ago

Osborne staff start looking for new jobs

"Open to Work" flags appear on LinkedIn profiles
4 days ago

Plan rejected for 42-storey tower above historic building

Councillor describes as ludicrous plan to build 300 flats above Georgian mansion
4 days ago

Ventilation deal could hike product prices for contractors

Watchdogs at CMA launch probe after duct firm acquires rival
4 days ago

Tide gets go-ahead for London 412 student flats scheme

Volumetric developer secures planning for West Ealing project
4 days ago

Green light for £75m Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby

Construction set to start this summer on revamp of historic buildings
4 days ago

Robertson to deliver £45m Newcastle NHS Trust works

Capital works will be focused on Freeman Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary sites
4 days ago

Winners named for £2bn Healthy Homes framework

CHIC reveals line-up of over 40 firms for net zero and building safety works
4 days ago

Plan lodged for tallest skyscraper outside London

Developer Salboy submits plan for 76-storey Manchester resi tower
5 days ago

Curo starts £170m race for new homes framework

Bath housing association plans to build up to 300 homes a year
5 days ago

Gove approves major Cambridge North mixed-use scheme

Government backs controversial scheme of 424 flats and 600,000 sq ft of tech and lab space
5 days ago

Pontins holiday park to house Sizewell C builders

Suffolk holiday park to house 500 nuclear construction workers
5 days ago

Adrian Bloor targets 1,000 homes-a-year

Expansion plans after major investment into challenger house building business HarperCrewe
5 days ago

Housing firm fined £528,000 after cable strike

Maintenance workers given no information on underground services
5 days ago

Berkeley subbies face six weeks without payments

Introduction of new finance software means payment hiatus for suppliers
6 days ago

Pagabo reveals 56 winners of latest £1.6bn retrofit deal

Decarbonisation Solutions Framework launched: Full list of winners
6 days ago

Go-ahead for £100m Liverpool Love Lane flats

500-flat scheme will be built across four blocks in Vauxhall area of city
6 days ago

Unions win HS2 site access battle at Old Oak Common job

Skanska, Costain, Strabag JV now the last denying unions access to HS2 sites
6 days ago

Contractors jack 1,100t viaduct into place in 13-hour operation

158m-long composite deck structure jacked into place 10-hours ahead of schedule
6 days ago

Wates wins former Daily Mail printworks transformation

British Land advances major cultural venue at London’s Canada Water
6 days ago

Mace poaches Ramboll chief to be Head of Engineering

Martin Feakes will develop civil and structural engineering offer at Mace
6 days ago

Subcontractors form alliance for major civils jobs

Trio of specialists join forces to collaborate and offer Tier 1 contractors a turnkey solution
7 days ago

Contractor services