FOLLOWING a five-year campaign, Unite has secured an access agreement to ensure that workers on the HS2 tunnels project at Euston can access advice and support of a union official.
An access agreement was signed this week between the union and the joint venture company Skanska, Costain, Strabag (SCS) that is undertaking the work to build the tunnels which will carry HS2 trains in and our of central London.
Under the access agreement, union officers will be able to meet with workers at the site rest areas during break times to discuss employment matters. Unite will also be able to attend induction meetings to talk to workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “The persistence and dedication of Unite construction members should be congratulated; it is their hard work which has ensued this access agreement has been signed. Construction workers based on the SCS project will now be able to freely consult a Unite official about all their employment and safety concerns.
“The signing of this agreement will ensure that Unite is now fully able to defend and enhance workers’ jobs, pay and conditions at HS2.”
The access agreement is the culmination of a five-year campaign to secure standard access to the HS2 projects in central London. It now means that all major parts of the HS2 development are covered by union access agreements.
Unite regional co-ordinating officer Vince Passfield added, “This has been a long and challenging campaign to secure standard union access to this site. Now that it has been achieved Unite will ensure that workers will have their employment concerns swiftly and properly dealt with.”
