{"id":1094,"date":"2023-03-22T10:08:01","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T09:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hazards.org\/blacklistblog\/?p=1094"},"modified":"2023-03-22T10:08:01","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T09:08:01","slug":"unite-member-says-he-feels-fully-vindicated-in-crossrail-blacklisting-case-as-open-court-statement-delivered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazards.org\/blacklistblog\/2023\/03\/22\/unite-member-says-he-feels-fully-vindicated-in-crossrail-blacklisting-case-as-open-court-statement-delivered\/","title":{"rendered":"Unite member says he feels fully vindicated in Crossrail \u201cblacklisting\u201d case as open court statement delivered"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unite news release<\/a>. 21 March 2023.<\/p>\n

A landmark case involving allegations of contemporary \u201cblacklisting\u201d on the flagship Crossrail project has concluded following a statement in open court yesterday (Monday 20 March).<\/p>\n

Skilled electrician<\/h4>\n

Unite member Daniel Collins, an electrician, took a case for blacklisting, breaches of data protection and misuse of private information against construction companies Crossrail, Costain, Skanska, T Clarke and NG Bailey.<\/p>\n

Mr Collins had the full support of Unite who instructed employment solicitors Thompsons to act on his behalf.<\/p>\n

Significant case<\/h4>\n

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said<\/a>: \u201cThis was a hugely significant case and demonstrates how Unite will back its members to the hilt.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cUnite is totally focused on defending the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and it will use all avenues available to defend their interests.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Safety concerns<\/h4>\n

In February 2015, while working for the Costain\/Skanska joint venture at Bond Street, Mr Collins raised serious safety concerns. He was dismissed from the project three days later.<\/p>\n

After that date, and even though he was continually applying for work across the Crossrail project, Mr Collins was not able to secure a position.\u00a0On a number of occasions, he was\u00a0offered roles which were later withdrawn.<\/p>\n

As a result of being unable to secure work, Mr Collins was forced to leave the construction sector and had to seek employment elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Personal information<\/h4>\n

Mr Collins then made a series of subject access requests that revealed how personal information about him had been widely circulated. This included an internal email from Costain that said:\u00a0\u201cWe have a potential issue. Danny Collins is part of the Unite activist group\u201d<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

He also discovered that Costain, Skanska and T Clarke held private information on him concerning a grievance he had submitted to an employment agency Premier People Recruitment (PPR), concerning an unrelated matter when he was working at Heathrow Airport. Mr Collins believes the details of the grievance had nothing to do with Costain, Skanska and T Clarke and there was no legitimate reason for them to have the information.<\/p>\n

Damages paid<\/h4>\n

In addition, the Labour Manager at T Clarke had forwarded the email correspondence about the grievance to his company\u2019s group chief executive and group managing director and said: \u201cRead and delete!!! I hope we never end up with this bloke on any of our sites.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Although the companies involved denied liability, they agreed to pay damages to Mr Collins and have agreed to pay Mr Collins\u2019 legal costs \u201cfor purely commercial reasons and without admission of liability or wrongdoing\u201d<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Rachel Halliday, the solicitor from Thompsons who acted for Mr Collins during the case, said: \u201cWe were proud to represent Mr Collins and to secure him a settlement of his claim.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Ongoing concerns<\/h4>\n

The involvement of Costain and Skanska in the case is significant. The two companies, alongside Strabag, have formed a joint venture company and are undertaking work on HS2 at Euston Station and in London. Unlike other joint venture companies working on HS2, the Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture has refused to agree an access agreement with Unite and won\u2019t allow officials access to its welfare facilities to speak to workers, even though this is required by the client HS2.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Notes to editors:<\/p>\n

The full statement in open court<\/a><\/p>\n

Crossrail \u2018blacklisting\u2019 case to conclude with open court statement<\/a><\/p>\n

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.<\/p>\n

Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unite news release. 21 March 2023. A landmark case involving allegations of contemporary \u201cblacklisting\u201d on the flagship Crossrail project has concluded following a statement in open court yesterday (Monday 20 March). Skilled electrician Unite member Daniel Collins, an electrician, took a case for blacklisting, breaches of data protection and misuse of private information against construction … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Unite member says he feels fully vindicated in Crossrail \u201cblacklisting\u201d case as open court statement delivered”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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