PROTESTS were held in Whitehaven and Moor Row yesterday over claims of ‘union-busting’ by a construction company.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, held protests at Ove & Arup Partners’ offices in Whitehaven and Mott McDonald’s offices in Moor Row.

J Murphy and Sons Ltd is currently part of a joint venture with French construction company Bouygues which has been shortlisted for the multi-million pound contract to build the new Lower Thames Crossing.

Ove & Arup Partners and Mott McDonalds are listed as supporting Murphy’s bid for the Lower Thames Crossing contract.

The dispute is a result of J Murphy and Sons Ltd’s, Irish subsidiary Murphy International Ltd, which Unite claim wrongfully sacked four union members - including a Unite rep - last year.

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

The protests are part of a large number that Unite is holding across the UK and internationally to apply further pressure on the company to reinstate the workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Murphy’s behaviour is deplorable and it is guilty of flagrant union busting."

“Unite will never allow such attacks on members to go unchallenged and we will leave no stone unturned until Murphy does the right thing and reinstates these workers.”

A spokesman for Murphy said: “We categorically refute Unite’s misleading claims concerning the nature of this case. The claims regarding the reason for the dismissals and allegations of union busting are factually incorrect. 

“Murphy International Limited acted in response to unballoted, unnotified, and therefore unlawful strike action taken by a small minority of workers at our Aughinish site in Limerick, Ireland.

“Murphy has had a presence on site for over 40 years, enjoying good industrial relations on the site.  All its employees who work on the site are members of trade unions. The company has always indicated that it is open to resolving this matter amicably and sensibly. 

“We remain committed to maintaining an open dialogue with all parties around this issue to try to draw a line under this matter.  This matter is currently subject to legal proceedings in Ireland.”