Ucatt demands maximum fines for bid-rigging contractors

Construction union Ucatt has called for “maximum possible fines” to be levied on construction companies found guilty of price-fixing on public contracts.

Alan Ritchie, Ucatt’s general secretary, said the bid rigging that is the subject of the OFT’s inquiry is an “inevitable consequence” of the privatisation and outsourcing of public sector work.

He said: “If the public sector is not able to build properties and buildings directly, then you are at the mercy of collusion among private contractors, to artificially increase prices…. The OFT must levy the maximum possible penalties on these companies. We will monitor the situation in order to ensure swift action is taken.”