WHAT: Local leaders sign Unite’s Construction Charter
WHEN: Wednesday 20 March 2019, 16:00
WHERE: The Council House, Priory Rd, Dudley, DY1 1HF

Dudley council will become the latest local council in the West Midlands to use its influence to support local construction workers by signing up to Unite’s construction charter.

Unite’s construction charter is a pioneering agreement which will ensure that working conditions and building standards on construction projects under the control of the council meet the highest standards.

Leader of the council Qadar Zada and Unite’s regional political officer Frank Keogh will sign the charter at The Council House on Priory Road at 16:00. Coventry and Wolverhampton councils have also signed up to the charter.

Construction firms planning to work on Dudley council building projects will now need to adhere to the new construction dharter. The charter commits to working with Unite in order to achieve the highest standards in respect of direct employment status, health & safety, standards of work, apprenticeship training and the implementation of appropriate nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment.

Frank Keogh, Unite regional political officer for the West Midlands said: “Dudley council is the latest council in the West Midlands to sign up to Unite’s construction charter. I’m pleased to join councillor Qadar Zada to sign this groundbreaking agreement.

“The Charter means contractors must work closely with the unions to achieve the highest safety and employment standards. With more councils signing up to the cvharter in the West Midlands the agreement is becoming a mark of a council which is really serious about the best standards for local construction projects.”

Councillor Qadar Zada, leader of Dudley council, said: “As a council we are responsible for the procurement of a large amount of construction projects. It is therefore appropriate that we, as a responsible client, enter into this agreement and commit to working with the appropriate trade unions, in order to achieve the highest standards.

“The council recognises that through construction and civil engineering contracts it has the opportunity to promote economic growth across the borough and deliver training and employment opportunities.

“We are also ever mindful of the industry skills shortage and plan to use the Charter as a starting point for discussion with firms we use in how they can take on apprentices and add social value to the borough they are working in.”

ENDS

Unite is a union that campaigns for and delivers better pay and conditions for its members. Unite is winning at work based on three core values. Secure Work: fighting for jobs and job security, Strong Voice: a union which is a respected voice at work and Decent Pay: a union focused on pay and conditions.

For more information contact Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315

  • Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.