Unions win five-year campaign for HS2 tunnel access

Construction union Unite and GMB union have secured an agreement to ensure that HS2 tunnel workers can access advice and support from an on site union official, following a five-year campaign.

The access agreement was signed between the Unite the Union and Skanska, Costain, Strabag (SCS) Joint Venture, which is working to build the tunnels which will carry HS2 trains in and out of central London, based at Euston.

The GMB union were also signatories to the access agreement.

Under the access agreement, a union officer will be able to meet with workers in the site’s rest areas during break times to discuss employment matters.

The union will also be able to attend induction meetings to talk to workers.

The access agreement now means that all major parts of the HS2 development are covered by union access agreements.

Following the completion of Old Oak Common station underground box excavation by Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS JV) last month, work on the east end of the underground box has now been handed over to (SCS JV), who are preparing to construct HS2’s running tunnel to Euston.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The persistence and dedication of Unite construction members should be congratulated; it is their hard work which has ensued this access agreement has been signed.

Construction workers based on the SCS project will now be able to freely consult a Unite official about all their employment and safety concerns.

 “The signing of this agreement will ensure that Unite is now fully able to defend and enhance workers’ jobs, pay and conditions at HS2.”

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Vince Passfield said: “This has been a long and challenging campaign to secure standard union access to this site. 

Now that it has been achieved, Unite will ensure that workers will have their employment concerns swiftly and properly dealt with.”

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