A CONSTRUCTION workers’ organiser has been banned from a Leeds building site because bosses say he “made it untidy,” builders’ union Ucatt revealed yesterday.

The union has long been trying to organise on sites run by Shepherd.

The firm has won major contracts from Leeds University and blocked the union from its new library site.

Ucatt only won limited access after pressure from campus unions.

But when Ucatt regional organiser Mark Martin tried to gain access to the site of a new multistorey car park at the university he was told barred because he “made it untidy.”

Yorkshire regional secretary Rob Morris said: “This latest excuse is simply ridiculous. Last year Shepherd told us that we were disturbing the workers and this year it is that we make the site untidy. The question has got to be: ‘What is the company trying to hide?’

“If the company has got nothing to hide then there should be absolutely no problem with Ucatt freely speaking to the workforce.”

He said union officials are always smartly dressed and wear a shirt and tie. Also when visiting a site they make arrangements in advance rather than turn up unannounced.

Mr Morris added: “I hope that Shepherd will see sense and allow Ucatt access. Otherwise the union could be forced to picket and try to contact workers outside the site which could cause widespread disruption.”