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JLE in walk-out threat
00:00 30 Sep 1998
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by Carol Millett
The Jubilee Line Extension is facing massive disruption this week as electricians prepare to vote to either strike or work-to-rule.
The move undermines the JLE's new project manager Bechtel's plans to accelerate the project in a last-ditch attempt to finish it by the millennium.
This latest dispute has been triggered by M&E contractor Drake and Skull's refusal to meet JLE electricians' demands for eight days' pay for seven days' work in return for their signing waiver forms allowing them to work more than the 48 hours a week laid down by the new Working Time Regulations (see Analysis, page 18/19)
As CJ went to press, electricians at a mass meeting were voting on whether to strike or work to rule. Site sources say the result is most likely to be a call for a work to rule than to strike. This will mean an immediate end to weekend working, to all 12-hour shifts and to most night shifts on the already massively delayed project.
Industry observers warned this week that Bechtel would not tolerate industrial action. "Bechtel has a reputation for not letting anything get in its way. There's a strong possibility they will terminate some contracts and bring in a Continental contractor and workforce if that is what it takes to get the job done," one leading consultant told CJ.
But one angry AEEU official told CJ: "They [Bechtel] could try sacking us if we take unofficial action but they can't replace 500 electricians overnight and we would picket the place right down to the ground - and they know that. They also know it wouldn't make good publicity to have an American company sacking British workers and replacing them with a foreign workforce on a British project."
Contractors were also sceptical. "It would take Bechtel far too long to replace one contractor with another or even bring in additional contractors and shunt existing ones to one side. They don't have the time. They will have to work with what they've got which means they will have to pay what it costs," said one JLE contractor.
Meanwhile Bechtel has set up a special unit to settle JLE contractors' claims. This will be good news for many JLE contractors, particularly Drake and Skull which is said to be claiming tens of millions for delays and acceleration costs.
A leading City lawyer told CJ: "Bechtel has set up the unit to speed up claims settlement. There'll be more money in it for contractors than under the old regime but, in return, they will be expected to sign up to acceleration agreements."
The Jubilee Line Extension is facing massive disruption this week as electricians prepare to vote to either strike or work-to-rule.
The move undermines the JLE's new project manager Bechtel's plans to accelerate the project in a last-ditch attempt to finish it by the millennium.
This latest dispute has been triggered by M&E contractor Drake and Skull's refusal to meet JLE electricians' demands for eight days' pay for seven days' work in return for their signing waiver forms allowing them to work more than the 48 hours a week laid down by the new Working Time Regulations (see Analysis, page 18/19)
As CJ went to press, electricians at a mass meeting were voting on whether to strike or work to rule. Site sources say the result is most likely to be a call for a work to rule than to strike. This will mean an immediate end to weekend working, to all 12-hour shifts and to most night shifts on the already massively delayed project.
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Industry observers warned this week that Bechtel would not tolerate industrial action. "Bechtel has a reputation for not letting anything get in its way. There's a strong possibility they will terminate some contracts and bring in a Continental contractor and workforce if that is what it takes to get the job done," one leading consultant told CJ.
But one angry AEEU official told CJ: "They [Bechtel] could try sacking us if we take unofficial action but they can't replace 500 electricians overnight and we would picket the place right down to the ground - and they know that. They also know it wouldn't make good publicity to have an American company sacking British workers and replacing them with a foreign workforce on a British project."
Contractors were also sceptical. "It would take Bechtel far too long to replace one contractor with another or even bring in additional contractors and shunt existing ones to one side. They don't have the time. They will have to work with what they've got which means they will have to pay what it costs," said one JLE contractor.
Meanwhile Bechtel has set up a special unit to settle JLE contractors' claims. This will be good news for many JLE contractors, particularly Drake and Skull which is said to be claiming tens of millions for delays and acceleration costs.
A leading City lawyer told CJ: "Bechtel has set up the unit to speed up claims settlement. There'll be more money in it for contractors than under the old regime but, in return, they will be expected to sign up to acceleration agreements."
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