Construction union UCATT have criticised Cllr Carl Minns, Leader of Hull Council for his failure to resolve the future of the Connaught workforce in the City.

UCATT have described the Liberal Democrat leader as acting like "Pontius Pilot" when dealing with the workers fate.

Over 3 weeks after the workers lives were thrown into chaos when Connaught collapsed, the 140 strong workforce in Hull, still do not know whether their jobs have been saved or even who their employer currently is.

Initially it had been understood that housing contractor Lovells which bought many of the Connaught contracts, would be taking over the Hull contract. This would have secured the workers future and preserved their terms and conditions.

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However that formal transfer has not taken place and it is believed that Hull Council are unhappy with the deal and do not want the contract to continue in its present form. Instead they would prefer to break up the contract and rehire some of the workforce on inferior terms and conditions.

Last week Mr Minns told unions representing the workers that he would not meet them again as he needed to be "impartial".

Steve Murphy, Regional Secretary of UCATT's Yorkshire Region, said: "Carl Minns is a modern day Pontius Pilot. Rather than fight tooth and nail for 140 local workers who are dedicated to providing a first class service for local tenants. He has instead washed his hands of them."

Mr Murphy, added: "Mr Minns has a key role in resolving these problems. Rather than ignore the unions he must work with us to secure the future of workers in Hull."

(CD/BMcC)