BALFOUR KILPATRICK - ROYAL OPERA HOUSE & PFIZER LISTS

The lists for the Pfizer and Royal Opera House projects provided to Drake & Scull (Emcor Plc) by Balfour Kilpatrick in 2000, plus the list from the Jubilee Line Extension Project appear to have disappeared from the foot of this blog and I can only assume that as use of this site is free, that the site deletes blog entries after a specific period to preserve memory. As use of this free webspace appears limited, I can see no reason to republish these, unless anyone specifically requires them.

HADEN YOUNG DIRECTOR CONFESSES TO BLACKLISTING

HADEN YOUNG DIRECTOR CONFESSES TO BLACKLISTING

On Tuesday 21 November 2006, David Beck, Managing Director of Haden Young was cross examined by my Counsel, Mr Burgher on the blacklisting procedure within Haden Young. Mr Beck was shown lists of names and national insurance numbers of agency electricians that were faxed by the Labour Manager, Neil Cappell to Pesonnel Director, Pru Jackson’s office in February 2005 under the heading 'Security Checks'. These lists included the name of electrician, Michael Shakespeare. Mr Beck stated that he had never seen such lists and was not aware of any blacklisting procedure within Haden Young.

On Wednesday 22 November 2006, Peter Barnes, Commercial Director of Haden Young was questioned by Mr Burgher on the same matter. Mr Barnes was also reluctant to talk about the blacklisting procedure until the Chair, Mr McCarry intervened, asking Mr Barnes to explain his understanding of the blacklisting procedure and the faxed lists of names.

It was at this point when Mr Barnes stated that Haden Young used the services of an external organisation that kept intelligence on certain operatives who were deemed to be troublemakers.

This statement is consistent with my previous knowledge of such an organisation, which was headed by a person called Iain Kerr.

On Thursday 23 November 2006, Pru Jackson, Personnel Director of Haden Young was also questioned on the same matter by Mr Burgher. Ms Jackson tried to brush aside the issue, stating that she had explained the reasons for refusing Michael Shakespeare employment to me in February 2005. The Chairman, Mr McCarry intervened again and asked Ms Jackson to explain the reason she gave to me at the time. Ms Jackson explained that she had informed me that Mr Shakespeare had been refused employment because he had been working outside of the industry for some time. It was at this point where Mr McCarry stated, "Of course he's been working outside of the industry - He can't get a job".

I originally raised this matter, as I was concerned that I would become a victim of this blacklisting procedure for making the disclosures I'd made.

In light of this confession, which only confirmed what I already knew about the blacklisting procedures within Haden Young and other major employers within the Construction Industry, I'll now be writing to the Secretary of State for the DTI, inviting him to investigate the matter.

BALFOUR BEATTY / HADEN YOUNG MEETING 27 MAY 2005

BALFOUR BEATTY & HADEN YOUNG MEETING - 27 MAY 2005

On 23 May 2005 I made protected disclosures to Christopher Pearson (Disclosure Officer and Company Secretary of Balfour Beatty PLC) about potential fraud and cover up of such within their subsidiary, Haden Young Limited. The Balfour Beatty Personnel Director, Paul Raby was also present. On giving evidence to the tribunal, Mr Pearson stated that both himself and Paul Raby of Balfour Beatty plc met with David Beck and Finance Director, Lawson Elliot of Haden Young on 27 May 2005. Mr Pearson went on to state that he took no notes at the meeting on 27 May 2005.

I can also confirm that Haden Young disclosed no notes of the meeting during disclosure.

However, during Mr Elliot's evidence, Mr Elliot was questioned on his report (dated 27 April 2005) into my disclosures of fraud and a cover up within Haden Young on 8 April 2005. This report was confined to some typed notes of interviews with key Haden Young staff on the morning of 14 April 2005. Mr Elliot was therefore questioned on the extent of his investigation, which appeared to be confined to these interviews held on the morning of 14 April 2005. Mr Elliot informed the Tribunal that the investigation was not confined just to these meeting and that his colleague, George Pantelli had compiled a thick file which held the entire contents of the paperwork assessed during the investigation.

As this file had never been disclosed by Haden Young, The Chairman, Mr McCarry requested that this be sent to the Tribunal with immediate effect. The file was disclosed the following morning and as expected, the file did not contain any of the paperwork that Mr Elliot had referred to. However, it did contain one major document that Haden Young had failed to disclose and that Mr Pearson of Balfour Beatty had denied any knowledge of under oath. The typed meeting notes from the meeting between Balfour Beatty plc and Haden Young on 27 May 2005.

In these notes, Mr Beck, Managing Director of Haden Young states that a number of Haden Young staff were very upset by the allegations I had made and asked what recourse could be taken against me. A further note stated that Mr Raby was to look into my position within the Company and report back.

A WAINWRIGHT V HADEN YOUNG LIMITED

My tribunal will commence on 14 November 2006 in Birmingham at Phoenix House, 1-3 Newhall Street, Birmingham, B3 3NH - Telephone: 0121 236 6051 - The tribunal is set to last 9 days.

STEVE ACHESON - TRIBUNAL UPDATE

I was recently informed by Steve Acheson that himself, Tony Jones and Graham Bowker, all electricians from the lists have a four-day tribunal hearing against Logic for unfair dismissal on 15 January 2005. Mr Acheson also has a detriment case against Logic to be heard on the same date on the basis that Logic were induced by Balfour Kilpatrick Limited to dismiss Mr Acheson for previous trade union activity.

MICHAEL ANDERSON v EMCOR RAIL & ENGINEERING

The electrician referred to in my post '16 Months out of work', published on 23 March 2006 was Michael Anderson.

I had received a witness order to give evidence at the tribunal (M Anderson v Emcor Rail and Engineering) on 21 June 2006, but both parties agreed a confidential settlement the day before.

Michael was one of the electricians on the Drake and Scull, Jubilee Line Extension Project list published below on 23 March 2006 and Drake and Scull were previously a trading subsidiary of Emcor.

STEVE KEEVIL

I was contacted on 2 June 2006 by a Mr Steve Keevil, who was employed as an electrician by Drake & Scull on the Jubilee Line Extension Project.

Mr Keevil informed me that he been unable to find work with another JIB company since leaving the employment of Drake & Scull on the Jubilee Line Extension project.

Mr Keevil also recalled two incidents that occurred shortly after leaving the JLE project where he had attempted to find work.

1. The first was when Mr Keevil was supplied to The Excel Project via an agency. Mr Keevil reported to the site and was duly inducted and set about work.

Mr Keevil recalled that Drake & Scull were also working on the Excel Project at the time and that a number of Drake & Scull employees had recognised him during that first day.

That evening on returning home, Mr Keevil received a telephone call from the agency instructing him not to return to the Excel project the following morning.


2. The second incident was when Mr Keevil was supplied to Balfour Kilpatrick at the Pfizer project via another agency.

Mr Keevil informed me that he reported to the project and was again duly inducted and issued with his PPE equipment. However, at about 2pm that day, Mr Keevil was informed by the Balfour Kilpatrick supervisor that it was too late to set out any work for him and he was sent home for the rest of the day.

On his journey home from the Pfizer project Mr Keevil was contacted by his wife, who informed him that she had received a telephone call from the agency instructing Mr Keevil not to return to the Pfizer project the following morning.

HADEN YOUNG - THE EXETER SCHOOLS PROJECT

In light of the recent press articles surrounding the reasons for taking my previous employer, HADEN YOUNG LIMITED to a tribunal for constructive dismissal, I would like to make the following comment to clarify matters.

I am taking Haden Young Limited to a tribunal for constructive dismissal in relation to the way I was treated after making protected disclosures about widescale fraud at the EXETER SCHOOLS project over a year ago and an attempted cover up by the Haden Young Regional Director, Regional Operations Manager and Area Operations Manager.

I can aslo confirm that the owner of an electrical sub-contractor to Haden Young Limited on the Exeter Schools project has now come forward with vital information to support my claim.

In respect of the blacklisting, I made a further disclosure about the blacklisting procedures within Haden Young Limited and potentially the group, as I was concerned that I would become a victim of this process after making the disclosures about the fraud and the cover up.

I hope this now clarifies the matter and ask anyone who has any information that could be of help to contact me via the e-mail link in the ‘View my complete profile’ section.

THE REMOVAL OF STEVE ACHESON FROM THE MRI PROJECT

A big thank you goes out to Steve Johnson, the electrical engineer for sub-contractor Logic on the Manchester Royal Infirmary project at the time of the removal of electrican, Steve Acheson from the project (24 February 2006) .

Mr Acheson had been able to gain access and employment on the MRI project, after being taken on during the Christmas break by Logic, a sub-contractor to TAC on the project.

I recently spoke to Mr Johnson on 21 April 2006 and he informed me that he was approached by Rob MacIntyre of TAC, who informed him that he had been instructed by John Lawrence of Bovis (the main contractor) to have Mr Acheson removed from the project following discussions with Balfour Kilpatrick about Mr Acheson’s past involvement in disputes with them.

Mr Johnson also informed me that he rejected Mr MacIntyre’s reasons for removing Mr Acheson from the project at the time, stating that he was very happy with Mr Acheson’s work and there was no reason for him to leave. He went on to inform me that Mr MacIntyre was insistent and Mr Acheson was later removed from the project.

I therefore contacted Mr MacIntyre of TAC later that day to discuss this with him and received a ‘no comment’, followed by a dial tone, which spoke volumes in itself.

DRAKE & SCULL - JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION STRIKE RINGLEADERS

I was e-mailed on 4 May 2006, by a gentleman who was an electrical supervisor for Drake & Scull on the Jubilee Line Extension project. I therefore contacted him and he informed me that during the last strike on the project, that himself and the other supervisors were gathered into a room at the Guildford Street office and asked to take part in a process to identify the ringleaders and instigators of the strike action. This included the completion of a questionnaire.

The gentleman went on to inform me that he refused to make any detrimental comments about any of the striking operatives in the meeting, but was aware that other supervisors had cooperated in identifying certain individuals to management.

In light of recent press articles, I’d like to point out the following from my post dated 23 March 2006 for clarification.

“This information was passed on with a view to preventing SOME of the electricians from gaining employment on future Drake & Scull projects and was circulated to the Drake & Scull Engineering regional labour managers”.

CONTACT

Can I please ask everyone to use the e-mail link in the 'view my complete profile' section to contact me as the site does not enable me to reply to posts. The 'view my complete profile' section can be accessed using the link at the foot of the 'About Me' section on the right of the screen.

MICHAEL SHAKESPEARE (ELECTRICIAN) PLEASE GET IN TOUCH...!

I'm particularly interested to hear from an electrician called Michael Shakespeare, who is probably based in the Midlands. Please do get in touch Michael if you read this.

STEVE JOHNSON (LOGIC / MRI) PLEASE GET IN TOUCH...!

I'm particularly interested to hear from a gentleman called Steve Johnson from Lancaster, who until recently was an engineer for a company called Logic on the Manchester Royal Infirmary project. Please do get in touch if you read this Steve.

THANKS

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who has e-mailed with messages of support. The website has produced some very interesting leads and I'm grateful to those who have come forward. Can I please ask again for those who do wish to contact me to use the e-mail link in the 'view my complete profile' section. The website does not enable me to reply to those who use the posting facility. Thanks again, Alan.