Trade contractors in firing line as UCATT targets workers' rights

by John d'Arcy



Construction union UCATT has filed final accounts for the year 1999 showing an overall surplus of £867,000. And part of this is now going to be diverted towards a major campaign aimed at securing rights for workers employed by trade contractors.

General secretary George Brumwell said the union marked up an operating surplus of £561,000 last year. It also received additional income from the disposal of assets. "We are re-investing this money," he said. "We have bought two new offices in Glasgow. One is for our Scottish region, and the other is an investment which should secure a good income."

Brumwell said UCATT intended to direct further cash resources into a campaign targeting trade contractors.

"We will be looking at the abuse of employment rights by trade contractors," he said. "The campaign will be specifically aimed at firms in London and the South east. Some of these people just do not live in the real world."

The general secretary added that a report to the union's delegate conference in Killarney on June 9-5 would show a 10% increase in membership last year. Total membership had risen to 122,500 "and there are signs of a further improvement this year".

In the previous year UCATT chalked up a surplus of over £600,000 and membership stood at around 115,000.