Subject:	UNITE Construction Charter – Notice of Motion
Date of Meeting:	14 June 2018
Referred from:	Council 19 April 2018
Ward(s) affected:	All

UNITE CONSTRUCTION CHARTER

This council resolves to  support the Unite the Union Construction Charter and request that a report come to the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee regarding signing up to the Charter, recognising that:

• As a Local Authority we are responsible for the procurement of construction projects.

· It is therefore appropriate that as a responsible client we sign up to this Charter, and commit to working with the appropriate trade unions, in order to achieve the highest standards in respect of; direct employment status, Health & Safety, standard of work, apprenticeship training and the implementation of appropriate nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment.

· As more local authorities support the Charter this may lead to policy change at a national level leading to improved minimum standards in local authority procurement of construction projects.

Supporting information:

Unite has members across many different sectors of the economy and following the merger with UCATT last year, now represents a significant number of workers in the construction industry.

A priority campaign within this sector is addressing the shoddy practices by some firms that compromise employment protections from which workers should benefit.

Unite are contacting all Council Leaders across the country regarding the Unite Construction Charter and seeking support to have these terms nationally agreed as minimum standards in any local authority procurement policy. 

Once the Charter is signed and rolled out, Unite believe that any requirements of abiding by this will soon become an expectation and will actually put authorities in a strengthened position.

The Unite Construction Charter covers 12 requirements for all contractors and their supply chain engaged by a local authority.