Exclusive: Allegations that workers on Crossrail project were victimised for raising safety issues backed by former subcontractor on project

Crossrail

Allegations that workers on London鈥檚 Crossrail project were victimised for raising safety issues have been backed by a former subcontractor on the 拢15bn project.

好色先生TV last week reported on the details of an and blacklisting 鈥渢est case鈥 brought by electrician Frank Morris who claims to have been dismissed from his job on Crossrail last September after raising serious safety concerns.

The claim, at the London Central Employment Tribunal, was brought against three parties 鈥 Morris鈥 direct employer, Electrical Installations Services (EIS); Crossrail joint venture Bam Nuttall, Ferrovial and Kier (BFK); and Crossrail Ltd.

In its defence, Crossrail denied Morris鈥 claim, saying he had been made redundant by EIS 鈥渁s the work EIS was carrying out 鈥 had completed.鈥

However, a letter from the boss of EIS, Ron Turner, sent to the Unite union and obtained by 好色先生TV, disputes this.

The letter is dated September 13 2012, shortly after BFK鈥檚 decision to cancel EIS鈥 contract.

Turner wrote: 鈥淚 firmly believe that the decision to cancel my contract was driven by BFK wanting to remove Mr Morris from the project.鈥

The letter also claimed that a number of EIS workers including Morris had been treated 鈥渆xtremely unfairly鈥 by BFK managers and prevented from investigating or raising safety concerns.

Turner continued: 鈥淚 have no control over BFK鈥檚 tunnel team, who have little regard for the consequences of their actions with regards to sending people off site without any formal hearings or appeals.鈥

BFK said it is under a 鈥渃ontractual requirement鈥 not to comment to the media.

A spokesman for Crossrail said the letter鈥檚 鈥渦nsubstantiated allegations concerning the termination of the EIS contract have been firmly denied by BFK鈥. He added that while BFK remains part of the proceedings a judge had this week removed Crossrail Ltd from the case.

The tribunal is due to be heard next month.