FEATURE UCATT and Unite together Building a b Construction union UCATT has now joined Unite


Construction is a massive part of the UK economy worth £80bn a year, employing around 2.5m workers.


From January the former construction union UCATT has joined Unite. So together with Unite’s construction membership all construction trades are now represented by one union. This will provide a stronger voice for workers and create greater scope for organising across a range of workplaces.


Various forms of false self-employment rife in the industry mean that about only half of all workers are directly employed. If any sector in our economy needs union organisation it is construction.


Unite is determined to meet the challenges of the industry head on. Gail Cartmail, acting general secretary, said, “Unite is now a stronghold for organising construction workers. “As the largest union Unite has the resources to tackle unfair workings practices and build on our successes in both the private and public sectors. A strong union can back campaigns such as the one successfully executed to defeat ‘BESNA’ where seven major contractors set aside a huge fund to tear up a national collective agreement.


“Unite wants to work with employers


prepared to embrace our goals for decent work. We will work tirelessly to deliver good quality apprenticeships for the young men and women who are the future workforce. Apprenticeships and a commitment to direct labour are our bottom lines for major projects. A strong sector in a strong union is good news for all workers across the industry.”


Original ‘gig’ workers Stronger union organisation is essential – especially for workers on private sector sites, on the frontline, operating in a casualised environment – the original ‘gig’ workers. Most major construction companies


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Unite is at the forefront of the campaign to end false self-employment and to outlaw umbrella companies – defending members against the worst aspects of the industry.


The transitory nature of the industry was a major factor behind the blacklisting scandal which cast a dark stain on construction. Unite continues to act against contemporary blacklisting and is promoting reporting through the union’s Closing the Net campaign.


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responsibilities and avoid directly employing construction workers. The work is sub-contracted (often repeatedly) and with workers usually recruited via agencies.


The workers are often either engaged through an umbrella company or employed on some kind of false self- employment contract. Both options are grim. The ‘self-employed’ have all the characteristics of an employee but are denied even the most basic employment rights. And those employed under an umbrella company are treated as both the employer and employee.


The casual nature of the industry also affects other key issues – in particular, safety at work. Construction has the highest number of workplace fatalities and the way the industry operates is a major factor in how and why these deaths and injuries occur.


The refusal of companies to directly employ workers means the number of apprenticeships is appallingly low. The skills gap is widening and unless action is taken projects will be cancelled severely damaging the industry’s future.


Unite’s challenge is to ensure all construction workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work – and to stamp out the exploitation that remains all too prevalent.


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