Building union threatens London Olympics

It's not just the usual fat cats who plan to gouge as much as they can from the London Olympics.

The London Olympic projects will probably be be hit by strikes and threats from trade unions. The Olympic Delivery Authority has refused to set a single pay structure, Ucatt, a building union, has warned - and that is the cause of strike threats.

The union says that resentment among workers who are being paid less than those on other projects is likely to trigger strike threats. It says that one of the reasons the new Wembley Stadium was hit by disruption and delays was that subcontractors paid different rates. However the building of Terminal Five at Heathrow Airport was more successful because a single rate was agreed.

Alan Ritchie, the Ucatt general secretary, said: “My union is 100% committed to the London Games being a total success. However, I fear that the ODA’s refusal to agree a common site rate is a recipe for industrial disharmony, delays and cost overruns. It is not too late for these problems to be revisited and resolved.”

CLM, an outfit paid tens millions, has been created to help to keep the building costs under control. It seems they didn't think of this problem.