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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:17 pm
by DNgroundworks
I aint hocked up in debt, but as i havent been around long enough to generate much savings, im struggling with the work taking a sudden nose dive.
Been through my phonebook and rang everyone, phoned all customers back that i have quoted jobs for and they have either got someone else to do the work or they dont want it doing anymore!
Ill be off to the dole office soon if things carry on like this im also sick to death of daytime TV -Jeremy Kyle ffs!
Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:53 pm
by rab1
i`m getting about 15 calls a week from lads looking to know if were starting anyone, this time last year you could`nt get anyone for love or money, now everyone wants to be your friend.
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:53 pm
by Injured
Thats me worked up now just finished a roof and while doing that had a guy from round the corner ask me to repair his roof all done and now looking to do any building and groundworks.
Its been over 2 weeks since enquiry thought I was going to get the job as they asked for references but they didnt follow them up as I have spoken to the references since. so looking like not got it. 
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:17 pm
by ilovesettsonmondays
a lad who was working on olympic site told me that the paving was about to start on some part of the site if that is any good to anyone.london itself is very very hard to find a job paving.
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:03 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i saw in the paper today that laing o'rourke are laying off 10% of their workforce,think they were doing olympic stuff.
I feel for you blokes in the north,the recession is inevitably caused by the south but lasts a lot longer in the north
my mrs opened a clothes shop with her redundancy and has had 15 customers in a month!
LLL
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:05 am
by Suggers
We're hanging on by the skin of our teeth - the rainy day piggy bank keeps getting raided - not sure what to do.
Must stay positive tho. 
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:54 am
by henpecked
lutonlagerlout wrote:i saw in the paper today that laing o'rourke are laying off 10% of their workforce,think they were doing olympic stuff.
I feel for you blokes in the north,the recession is inevitably caused by the south but lasts a lot longer in the north
my mrs opened a clothes shop with her redundancy and has had 15 customers in a month!
LLL
Dear Colleague,
Over the next few weeks, we will be consulting with employees across Laing O’Rourke’s European Hub on a proposal to re-organise specific areas of our business in line with our ‘Find, Win, Deliver’ business priorities. It is likely that this proposed reorganisation will result in a significant reduction in the number of roles required across the business.
Through a combination of re-deployment, the removal of vacant positions and the use of fewer temporary and agency staff we will, to the greatest extent possible, minimise the number of people who will leave the Group as a consequence.
Today’s announcement has been prompted by the fact that the construction sector lags the global economic cycle in coming out of recession – the industry’s most challenging period is still ahead and all companies will have to respond accordingly. Therefore, it is now more pressing than ever that we bring forward the proposed transformation of the European Hub, to establish a more sustainable cost base while fully realising the benefits of our vertically-integrated delivery model, as we broaden our client offering across the value chain.
These proposals are a critical step in future-proofing our business, as contract pricing has become the most influential factor in many clients’ decision-making process - we need to ensure we have a tight rein on controllable costs to compete effectively in winning work.
We will review and consolidate activities within our European functional and technical support activities. As a consequence, we propose that a large proportion of the roles falling away will be within the support functions and management layers across our business units, the corporate centre and as a result of projects coming to a natural end.
With your help, the suggested changes will create a more efficient and effective organisational structure with the appropriate levels of professional resource necessary to achieve our current and medium-term business priorities. This will also deliver a substantial reduction in our annual operating costs, improving our competitiveness and business performance.
The other two hubs that comprise the Laing O’Rourke Group- Middle East and South Asia (MESA) and Australasia – are unaffected by today’s announcement. MESA has already re-organised its operations to safeguard the business from the impacts of the downturn in the region.
I know that this announcement will raise many questions and create uncertainty. You have my assurance that we will be fair, consistent and transparent throughout this period, communicating the suggested changes in an open and timely manner. You will hear further details on how the proposals affect your business in the coming days.
If you have any immediate concerns you should talk to your team leader or HR partner in the first instance. Useful information, including frequently-asked questions and answers plus HR policies relating to the re-organisation and the consultation process, is also available on iGATE.
We must constantly challenge ourselves to be more efficient in everything we do to improve service delivery while reducing our cost to serve. By anticipating the tougher trading conditions over the next 12 months and taking decisive action now, I believe we will create a resilient set of businesses better equipped to ride out the current storm and emerge in a stronger position.
Ray O’Rourke
Chairman and Chief Executive
Same old, same old.
Hp
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:15 pm
by DNgroundworks
LLL - im from the north and things are dire, by next Friday thats a month ive had off now just wondering how other lads from up these ends are doing?
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:49 pm
by rab1
I`m not a paving contractor. But up here at the moment walk onto any large site and each contractor has the cast of Ben Hur and the ships cat on site. You`ll be lucky if anyone has more than 6-7 live jobs on the go. Lot of work has been put back/canceled.
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:29 pm
by bobbi o
I've got no work,but i've got a shit load of sodium chlorate in the shed.
anyone know how to make a bomb? 
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:51 am
by seanandruby
Henpecked as an employee of the above i can say that we are dealt with fairly when it comes to being laid off, made reduntant etc. I read in the paper only yesterday that the government have put an hold on the building of polyclinics and other government funded contracts. Some contracts were in the process of being built, so now it will cost millions for security to protect the sites ??? My observation is that our company employ a lot of office staff that is often referred to as "deadwood." I am sure they have there use and feel sorry for those that will be selected to go. Our laying off process is dealt with site by site, by way of a matrix system that scores us on points, takes into account timekeeping, working ability etc. I have been on numerous high profile contracts with this firm for seven years and really there is no guarantee i wont be picked for redundancy because of that. I am usually in at the infrastructure so rely on new contracts starting up.
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:10 am
by henpecked
Thats really the problem with construction, as soon as thing tighten up, you are gone. The offices always seem to be stuffed with blokes who are on 3 times the rate of the man on the ground.
When things pick up, they really expect a 'skilled and experienced workforce' to be sitting waiting for the phone to ring.
Dont think so.
Hp
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:07 pm
by Tommy
Henpecked, your not the only one to notice that places are top heavy.
Used to be a manager, an admin secretary and a supervisor per trade.
Now there are 3 managers just for the grounds department, 3 environmental officers on around 40k each - and there are us, actually on the ground, waiting 3 months for new boots and ear defenders
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:27 pm
by Dave_L
That's basic PPE!
It's your employers responsibilty to supply it and you to wear it. I'd kick up a fuss!
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 5:04 pm
by henpecked
Dave_L wrote:That's basic PPE!
It's your employers responsibilty to supply it and you to wear it. I'd kick up a fuss!
Yeah, and get kicked into touch.
Hp
