Unite, the UK’s leading union, is launching a hotline for anyone who is dissatisfied or concerned about the actions of the Murphy Group construction company.

Unite has launched the hotline after receiving an increasing number of concerns about the company’s behaviour. The union is asking members of the public, employees and anyone who has had dealings with Murphy to report any issues they’ve had. These include issues such as dissatisfaction with the work quality, failures to deliver on the community aspects of a project or damage or mess caused.

The hotline’s launch is a further escalation by Unite, against the Murphy Group following the company’s wrongful dismissal of union members.

When: Friday 29 September 11:00
Where: Murphy HQ, Murphy’s Yard, Highgate Road, London NW5 1TN

The launch of the hotline comes at a particularly sensitive time for the company. It is seeking planning permission to redevelop its Camden Yard which would be worth many millions if it was allowed to build several high rise towers on the site.

Anyone who is a customer, employee, ex-employee, or member of the public who has concerns about the Murphy Group, is encouraged to use the hotline. People can report employment issues but Unite is also encouraging the reporting of construction projects the company has been or is involved with that have caused damage or negatively impacted a local community. The hotline number is 0808 175 4072.

Unite will be distributing contact cards to members of the public and Murphy workers around its sites giving details of the hotline.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is aware that a growing number of people are unhappy at the activities of the Murphy Group and it is apparent that its bad behaviour does not begin and end with its attempts to union-bust and its unfair dismissal of our members.

“Unite has pledged to leave no stone unturned in its campaign to have our members reinstated and the launch of the hotline is the first stage in the union’s commitment to build a broad based coalition prepared to stand up to the Murphy Group.”

Unite’s campaign against union-busting at the company is a result of J Murphy and Sons Ltd’s Irish subsidiary, Murphy International Ltd, wrongfully sacking four Unite members, including a Unite rep last year.

The workers, who were undertaking work at a site in the Republic of Ireland, were dismissed after organising a meeting of 15 workers to discuss Murphy’s non-payment of travel and subsistence payments.

After a period of two months where the workers were suspended without pay, the four workers were singled out and dismissed for not showing “remorse”. Despite pressure from Unite, the company has refused to reinstate the workers.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Unite will be able to supply high resolution pictures of the protests directly if required by media outlets.

Reinstate the Murphy 4

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.

Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.