Unite prepares for legal battle against Balfour Beatty
Posted by: electime 9th February 2018
Unite, the UK’s construction union, is preparing to take legal action in the gradually intensifying Crossrail dispute, after they allege Balfour Beatty ceased paying agreed bonuses.
Balfour Beatty are said to be acting like “guttersnipes and common thieves”, according to Unite.
The dispute involves 76 electricians employed by Balfour Beatty on the Woolwich Crossrail station. Workers took their third day of strike action on the 7th February, following previous strikes on 10th and 31st January. Further strikes are planned for 14 and 21 February.
The strike began when Balfour Beatty’s apparently ‘refused’ to pay an improved second tier payment and an industry standard four week finishing bonus (payable when workers are made redundant).
In response to the strike action, Balfour Beatty is said to have deducted the workers’ bonus payments from their wages, which are part of their contract earnings.
Unite will now step up its industrial activity and hold a series of demonstrations at different Crossrail sites to coincide with the next strike on Wednesday 14th February.
Unite has also claimed that Balfour Beatty is attempting to cut the pay of supervisors on the project by one pound an hour.
Jerry Swain, Unite national officer for construction, said: Balfour Beatty’s management are no better than guttersnipes and common thieves and they should hang their heads in shame at their pathetic attempts to bully workers.”
“Balfour Beatty’s actions have generated levels of anger not seen before in our membership and the ensuing demonstrations will show their fury.
“Balfour Beatty’s entirely unnecessary actions will backfire and are set to cause even further delays to the multi-billion Crossrail project.
“Unite will be using all legal avenues available it in order to ensure that the workers have their bonus payments repaid.
“Rather than stealing workers’ bonuses, Balfour Beatty should be getting round the negotiating table and resolving this dispute.”
