Partnership agreed on employment standards

The ODA has agreed to work in partnership with trade unions representing construction workers to promote high employment standards while it delivers, on time and on budget, the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Following detailed and constructive discussions the ODA has agreed a ‘Memorandum of Agreement’ with Unite, GMB and UCATT that sets out a framework for a positive, partnership-based, approach to industrial relations.

The agreement includes a number of important principles and commitments which guide how the ODA and its appointed contractors work with trade unions.

Up to 9000 construction workers, at peak, will be employed by ODA contractors on London 2012 construction projects. The Memorandum of Agreement builds on industry best practice to promote high employment standards and good employee relations and avoid disputes and delays.

The agreement includes:

• A partnership approach to delivering successfully the venues and infrastructure on time and on budget.
• Application of existing construction and allied industries National Working Rule Agreements.
• Establishment of a dedicated ODA/Unite/GMB/UCATT review group to meet regularly.
  
• Encouragement by the ODA to contractors to employ and train local people and provide a safe working environment in which employees are treated with dignity and respect.
• Encouragement by the ODA to contractors to commit to the ethos of a directly employed workforce.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said:

'This MOA reinforces our commitment to high employment standards. Creating a safe and positive working environment is vital to delivering this unique project on time and within the agreed budget. We want to work in partnership with our contractors and the construction trade unions in the months and years to come to build on employee relations best practice and demonstrate what the construction industry and its workforce can achieve. I welcome the constructive dialogue we have had with the Unions in recent months which has lead to this agreement.'

Speaking on behalf of the joint construction unions, Unite National Secretary Bob Blackman and UCATT General Secretary Alan Ritchie, said:

'This MOA is an important step forward. It confirms our joint commitment for a world class workforce where trade unions are acknowledged as key partners on the programme. We have jointly agreed to commit to the ethos of a directly employed workforce, for local employment, for safety as a major priority, for training and for dignity and respect to be key goals. The unions want Britain and London to achieve great success at the Games and after with a real and lasting legacy. But most of all we want the thousands of workers who build and deliver the Games to be safe, well treated, properly rewarded and their unions fully involved. We therefore welcome this new agreement.'

Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell said:

'The 2012 Olympics presents the opportunity to be the very best we can in every area of developing and staging the Games.

'A large part of that is the quality of relations with the workforce, including seizing the opportunities for training and skills development, scrupulous attention to safety and upholding the best employment practices.

'I am delighted the ODA and the Construction unions have reached such a positive agreement; it will benefit the effective delivery of the Games and the many thousands of employees who will have the opportunity to work on making the 2012 vision a reality.'

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'I welcome this Memorandum of Agreement between the ODA and the construction unions which marks an important and practical step forward in line with the commitments to work together towards the success of the 2012 Games, made when Seb Coe addressed Congress in 2004.

'Our ambition is to see that this world class event generates high quality well rewarded jobs, with the highest standards of health and safety, equal opportunities, skills and training and sustainability. I look forward to further agreements between the trade union movement and the Olympic family linked together through broader principles of cooperation setting our shared ambitions for London 2012.'

Download the Memorandum of Agreement

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100.