Ministers Urged To Act Over Mounting Challenges In Construction Sector

Scottish Ministers are being called upon to take action over mounting challenges within Scotland's construction sector following the recent collapse of two firms.

Unite Scotland said around 400 jobs are set to be lost after Midlothian-based Crummock and Paisley-based Lambert Contracts both fell into redundancy within the last few weeks.

The union is now calling upon the Government to take action to enforce current regulations and, where necessary, legislate over the constant collapse of construction companies.

The firms' collapse follows the failure of construction giant Carillion in January, while union members in Balfour Beatty in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, also lost their jobs in March.


Unite regional co-ordinating officer, Stevie Dillon, said: "Yet again workers employed on big ticket Scottish construction contracts are being cast aside, their employment rights run roughshod over. Crummock was a major subcontractor on the new Sick Kids Hospital development in Edinburgh. They supplied subcontracting services to the City of Edinburgh Council. 

"It's high time the Scottish Government intervened and legislated before more companies go to the wall."

Unite is currently campaigning for a Construction Charter which is being supported by some local authorities across Scotland. If implemented, the document would ensure the development of a positive approach to procurement across the public sector, with features including; direct employment of all construction workers, the implementation of collectively bargained agreements, trade union recognition, quotas of skilled apprenticeships, and a zero tolerance approach to any form of contemporary blacklisting.

Mr Dillon continued: "Too often, indeed on every major construction infrastructure job of significance across Scotland, Unite has discovered that the workforce responsible for building these vital resources are being ruthlessly exploited by a myriad of construction contractors and agencies that utilise Umbrella Companies in order to absolve companies and agencies from responsibilities to both employees and the state."

(LM/MH)