Unions have agreed access to HS2 London tunnel sites, ending a five-year battle.
SCS, the joint venture (JV) between Skanska, Costain and Strabag, has signed an agreement with unions Unite and GMB allowing union officials to visit workers based at Euston on site.
Union members will be able to discuss employment matters with workers in rest areas during break times and attend induction meetings.
Unite now has access agreements with all five HS2 JVs: BBVS (Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra), Align (Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, VolkerFitzpatrick), EKFB (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, Bam Nuttall) and Mace-Dragados.
SCS has faced criticism from Unite over its safety record. National officer Jerry Swain said the project was “crying out for union safety reps” after a worker was struck by falling clay.
The union’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The persistence and dedication of Unite construction members should be congratulated; it is their hard work which has ensured this access agreement has been signed.
“Construction workers based on the SCS project will now be able to freely consult a Unite official about all their employment and safety concerns.”
SCS’s tunnelling contract was valued at £4.1bn in December 2023, although Skanska revealed in a recent stock market update it had been paid an extra £50m for its HS2 role.
Unite regional coordinating officer Vince Passfield said the campaign had been “long and challenging”.
He added: “Now that it has been achieved Unite will ensure that workers will have their employment concerns swiftly and properly dealt with.”
HS2 Ltd, the arm’s-length body managing the construction of the megaproject, has a separate trade union agreement with the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
A spokesperson said: “HS2 Ltd has an agreement with the TUC demonstrating our commitment to working with the trade unions. By working together, we will build the new high-speed railway safely, and create a diverse, inclusive and skilled workforce.”
