The flagship but troubled Crossrail project is at the heart of a
groundbreaking contemporary blacklisting case launched by Unite,
the UK’s leading union.
The case involves Unite member Daniel Collins who was working on
the Costain/Skanska joint venture for an agency on the Bond
Street Crossrail station project.
Soon after beginning work on the project Mr Collins witnessed
some serious safety issues and followed the site procedures to
report his concerns. Shortly after this he was asked to leave the
site “due to a reduction in work”, despite originally being
assured that there was three years’ worth of work on the project.
After he was dismissed Mr Collins remained keen to work on the
Crossrail project as pay was relatively high and assignments were
for long periods of time. Despite being fully qualified, he was
either unsuccessful in his applications or if initially selected,
work offers were then subsequently rescinded.
Mr Collins then made a series of subject access requests and
learnt that a number of contractors, agencies and Crossrail
itself were involved in a conspiracy to deny him work on the
project.
The companies involved in allegedly blacklisting Mr Collins are:
Crossrail, Costain, Skanska, NG Bailey, T Clarke and the
employment agencies OnSite and Beaver Management Services Ltd.
Unite have instructed leading trade union solicitors Thompsons to
pursue the case. Thompsons have issued all of the companies
concerned with a letter before claim under the pre-action
protocol procedures,
The companies involved are required to respond to the case and
have also been instructed not to destroy any documents (including
electronic documents) that potentially relate to the case.
Due to the alleged blacklisting that Mr Collins experienced he
has been forced to leave the industry and is now employed in a
different sector.
Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: “Unite is
launching this landmark contemporary blacklisting case on behalf
of our member who we say was blacklisted out of the industry.
“Unite has always believed that blacklisting has continued in
construction but the challenge has been to unearth this dirty and
deceitful practice.
“The fact that this alleged blacklisting has been occurring on a
flagship public sector project raises massive concerns.
“It is truly sickening that a worker who has raised legitimate
safety concerns in order to protect their fellow workers, has
been forced out of the industry, due to their public spirited
actions.
“Sadly Unite believes that this is not an isolated case and that
other workers have also suffered from blacklisting. Those
responsible must be exposed.”
Rachel Halliday, of Thompsons Solicitors, said: “We have sent
letters before claim to Crossrail, and six contractors working on
the Crossrail project, and we await their responses.
“We know from the construction blacklisting cases we ran for
Unite that blacklisting has blighted the lives of too many trade
union activists.
“Working with the union we are seeking compensation for those
affected but also effective action by the companies to end
blacklisting as a practice.”
