BWTUC AND UNITE CONSTRUCTION HEARTUNIONS PHOTOCALL ON THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY TO CELEBRATE IMMENSE UNION ROLE AT BATTERSEA POWER STATION CONSTRUCTION SITE
The quality and sheer scale of the work involved is obvious and was delivered for the 4,000+ well paid workers over 12 years without a single serious accident in a dangerous industry with enormous and deadly hazards to be dealt with daily says BWTUC
Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council and Unite Construction are organising a photo call at Battersea Power Station construction site on Thursday February 13th as part of TUC’s HeartUnions week to celebrate the immense union role on the Battersea Power Station construction site from 2013 to 2025.
There will be members of Unite Construction and trades union members with flags and banners in the photo at this world famous landmark which more than 4,000 Unite members refurbished and redeveloped the huge site over the past 12 years. Union officials will be available for interviews on the immense role of Unite in the safe operation of the site without a single serious accident over 12 years on the huge site.
Declan Murphy the Unite senior shop steward on the site and now Unite Construction Officer London said “ It was an enormous privilege to work as one of the senior shop stewards on this massive and daunting project alongside more than 4,000 of my fellow union members who redeveloped this huge derelict site and refurbished this landmark building.
The levels of skills, qualifications and experience required to undertake the sheer scale of this project safely cannot be underestimated. What visitors can see when they visit the vast site and the world famous landmark, including the new NEON building, the first-ever purpose-built entertainment and cultural exhibition space in Central London, is what can be achieved by developers, construction firms and union organised construction workers working together with dignity and respect.
Unite over 12 years delivered well paid jobs and good conditions and a safe workplace for 4,000 + union construction workers. We publicly acknowledge the importance of the positive day to day working relationship with the developer who insisted on the same values from all their construction firms.
We want to continue with this relationship to complete the remaining phases of the project.
Dignity and respect for workers is the key to successful redevelopment. London would be a better city if other developers and construction firms followed the example of Battersea Power Station developers. What is not to love about what the immense role of the Union at Battersea Power Station site.”
Spencer Barnshaw, Secretary Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council which recently celebrated its 130th anniversary, said “ Trades Union members are very proud of the immense and hugely positive role that Unite construction members played in the redevelopment of this huge derelict site and the refurbishment of this world famous landmark.
We take our hats off to what they achieved building a positive relationship with the construction firms involved in the project and the Malaysian developers over the last 12 years.
The quality and sheer scale of the work involved speaks for itself and is obvious when visiting the site. What is less well known is that a project of this magnitude was delivered without a single serious industrial accident over these years in an inherently dangerous industry with enormous and deadly hazards to be dealt with daily.
4,000 + union members worked on the site for decent pay and conditions and they were treated with respect by the developers and the construction employers. More than 178 local school leavers were given apprenticeships on the site and they are now fully qualified and well trained in all the construction trades."
#HeartUnions week
