Leicester City Council is the latest local authority in the East Midlands to sign an agreement with Unite to ensure that working conditions for construction workers meet the highest standards.
Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor and Paresh Patel, Unite Regional Secretary for the East Midlands signed the charter at a ceremony at 115 Charles Street in Leicester on Tuesday 21st May.
In the East Midlands, Corby Council and Nottingham City council have also signed up to Unite’s Construction Charter.
Construction firms planning to work on Leicester City Council building projects will now need to adhere to the new Construction Charter. The charter commits to working with Unite in order to achieve the highest standards in respect of direct employment status, health and safety, standards of work, apprenticeship training and the implementation of appropriate nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment.
Paresh Patel, Unite Regional Secretary for the East Midlands said: “Construction is a hugely important part of the work local authorities do to support residents and the local economy. By signing up to Unite’s Construction Charter, Leicester City Council is also making a significant commitment to construction workers.
“The Charter gives workers the right to speak out on safety issues without fear, and to be paid a fair rate for the job. It means there will be no blacklisting of workers. Vitally it also ensures construction workers are directly employed.
“Leicester’s decision to support the backbone of the construction industry in the East Midlands is a real leap forward.”
Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby commented: “As one of the city’s major employers our priority is to ensure the highest standards of working conditions for all of our employees, and we want to work with other organisations that take the same approach.
“I’m very pleased to sign up to this Unite Charter as it reinforces our commitment to doing all we can to ensure that those employed on our construction projects also benefit from these high standards.”
Stuart Grice, Unite the Union Executive Council Member for Construction added: “I am proud to put my name to the Unite Union Construction Charter. This sets out clear and simple rules that can only improve the working lives of construction workers across the East Midlands region.
“Leicester City Council must be clear that any construction company seeking to work for the council must be prepared to follow the Charter.”
Pictured above front left to right front row is Paresh Patel, Unite Regional Secretary for East Midlands, Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, Unite the Union Executive Council Member for Construction, Stuart Grice. Back row left to right Councillor Elly Cutkelvin, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer, Shaun Lee, Councillors Adam Clark, Danny Myers and Sarah Russell.
