Unite the union is getting ready to take legal action in the Crossrail dispute.

Balfour Beatty has stopped paying agreed bonuses and Unite described the firm as acting like "guttersnipes and common thieves".

The dispute involves 76 electricians employed by Balfour Beatty on the Woolwich Crossrail station. Workers took their third day of strike action on Wednesday, 07 February, following previous strikes on 10 and 31 January. Further strikes are planned for 14 and 21 February.

The strike is a result of Balfour Beatty's refusal to pay an improved second tier payment and an industry standard four week finishing bonus.

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In response to the entirely legal strike action Balfour Beatty has deducted the workers' bonus payments from their wages, which are part of their contracted earnings.

It has also emerged Balfour Beatty is attempting to cut the pay of supervisors on the project by £1 an hour. Balfour Beatty has told the affected workers they have been overpaid them and the company is now trying to recoup the money.

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain said: "Balfour Beatty's management are no better than guttersnipes and common thieves and they should hang their heads in shame at their pathetic attempts to bully workers.

"Balfour Beatty's actions have generated levels of anger not seen before in our membership and the ensuing demonstrations will show their fury.

"Balfour Beatty's entirely unnecessary actions will backfire and are set to cause even further delays to the multi-billion Crossrail project.

"Unite will be using all legal avenues available it in order to ensure that the workers have their bonus payments repaid.

"Rather than stealing workers' bonuses, Balfour Beatty should be getting round the negotiating table and resolving this dispute."

(CD/MH)