Examination of Witnesses (Questions 98-99)
UCATT
27 NOVEMBER 2007
Q98 Chairman: Good morning, Mr Ritchie,
welcome to this evidence session on the Committee's inquiry into
the construction industry. We are very grateful to you for giving
us the time and for what you have contributed in advance. You
have a couple of colleagues who I think will whisper in your ear
but, just in case they contribute to our proceedings, could you
introduce them?
Mr Ritchie: Jim Kennedy and Barckley
Sumner.
Q99 Chairman: Can you help me by
explaining exactly what your role is as a union in the construction
industry, and how you relate to the new Unite union?
Mr Ritchie: We are the biggest
trade union in the construction industry; I am the general secretary.
The agreement that covers the majority of construction workers
is called the Working Rule Agreement; I am the joint trade union
secretary for that and we are the biggest trade union that deals
with that and that is in the private sector. In the public sector
we are the biggest trade union dealing with local authorities,
DLOs (Direct Labour Organisations), et cetera. So we cover two
strands of industry, public and private.
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