Sheffield signs minimum standards charter

The charter was signed on Wednesday 6th April between Sheffield deputy council leader Leigh Bramall and construction unions Ucatt, GMB and Unite.

The agreement sets out several provisions that contractors employed on city council projects will have to follow, including:

• directly employ workers (rather than being self-employed or paid via umbrella companies)
• only employ workers under recognised industrial agreements
• promote the benefits of trade unions and recognise shop stewards
• certify they are not engaged in blacklisting
• promote and encourage apprenticeships to NVQ Level 3.

The signing of the charter in Sheffield comes a month after Wakefield Council signed a similar agreement. [See previous report here.] Unions are lobbying more local authorities to sign too.

Ucatt regional secretary for Yorkshire Rob Morris said: “This charter is a first step to combatting and stamping out the exploitation and shoddy practices which are inherent in the construction industry.”

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