Only one Hackney apprentice on Olympics site
View of the second lighting tower being lifted into place in the Olympic Stadium Photo: Steve Bates. © ODA 2008
After discovering that only one apprentice working on the Olympics site comes from Hackney, local MP Diane Abbott has called on the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) to address the low numbers of apprentices on the Olympic site as a matter of urgency.
Diane led a debate yesterday afternoon in Westminster Hall on Employment on the London 2012 site, where Tessa Jowell MP, Minister of State for the Olympics, echoed her concerns about a lack of jobs going to people living in the Olympic boroughs.
She also visited the Olympic site in Stratford this morning where she received a briefing on employment from Lorraine Martins, the ODA’s Head of Employment, Skills, Equality and Inclusion.
Currently just 150 apprentices work on the Olympic site.
The ODA hopes to increase this number to 350 but confirmed many will not be able to finish their training on the Olympic site because there simply isn’t time before 2012.
Diane said this afternoon: “I was shocked to find out today as part of my research for a debate that I called this afternoon, that out of 150 apprentices currently on the Olympic Park, only one is from Hackney.
“This is a disgrace. Apprenticeships in construction and other skilled trades are exactly the lifeline that many young people in Hackney and elsewhere in the East End are calling out for. It’s nonsense to say that there’s only one person in Hackney who wants or needs to benefit from being a construction apprentice.
“The shocking figures for employment and apprentices show how heartless the ODA is. It pays lip service to local jobs for local people but in reality it’s falling short.
“Furthermore, of the apprentices that will be employed on the Olympic site, many of them will not be able to complete their training because it takes three years for a construction apprenticeship and there are only eighteen months of construction activity left to go.
“There are so many highly paid officers working for the ODA on these issues, that I am shocked that the number of East End young people gaining access to these apprenticeships is so low. I call on the ODA to address this issue as a matter of urgency.”
The only real news is that Diane Abbott MP is “shocked”. Just about everyone I know predicted – when the Olympics were first awarded to London back in 2005 – that there would be a whole lot of well paid “jobs for the boys” aka consultants, committee members, etc. plus dodgy contracts for overseas workers (on minimum wage and with no union representation) and naff all for the locals.
My only question is …. why wasn’t Diane Abbott listening to us five years ago?
Diane Abbott MP has made many public statements of concern about the lack of employment and other benefits to Hackney people in having the Olympics on our doorstep. I saw her speak very forcefully about the lack of such opportunities on television last year. In highlighting these deficiencies she does Hackney a service and should be thanked.
Ms Abbott’s concern is further demonstrated by her arranging the debate reported here – which highlights her commitment whilst drawing media attention to this failure.
Her approach is in stark contrast to that of our Council who recently used Hackney Today to make […] claims about the employment benefits of the Olympics. This in the run up to the election.
In a supplement called “A Host for 2012” Jules Pipe makes the following claims: “…0ver 400 people have been placed in jobs..” and “Ways into Work programme got more than 700 people into work…” and Mr Pipe also states that Olympics jobs for local people is one of his key priorities – inviting us to judge him on his success or failure in delivering on this promise.
In order to do so we need more facts, but Mr Pipe fails to tell us – amongst some very clever wording – what Ms Abbott has – that only one apprenticeship has gone to a Hackney resident. Does this lack of opportunity for Hackney residents not concern Mr Pipe ? Does he know about it ? Why does he present this as a success ?
The real problem here is that as locals we are denied the opportunity to benefit from the Olympics because our concerns about the lack of benefits are not raised by our council. Instead Mr Pipe presents this failure as a success – presumably because he hopes to benefit from such “spin” in the elections.
Soon enough the Olympics will have come and gone. We must hold Mr Pipe to account about his claims on jobs for locals. The actions of Ms Abbott have made this easier for us.
It is well worth taking a close look at Mr Pipes claims and challenging him on them. And a close look too at our council’s website – where not a single Olympics vacancy is listed.
So – how many Olympics jobs have gone to locals, Mr Pipe ?
Isn’t it obvious why Diane Abbott MP is making a lot of noise about this issue now? There is an election coming up and her majority has been shrinking. She hasn’t done that much for her constituents over the last 23 years, which is why Hackney is the second poorest borough in this country.
Too little too late, even with a suspiciously supportive “andrewmccabe” posting the comment above.
It’s easy to level a casual accusation such as Diane Abbott MP “…hasn’t done that much for her constituents..” and to say that Ms Abbott is herself responsible for the inner city challenges faced by Hackney is very far fetched.
To allay your suspicions, I’m a constituent of Ms Abbott’s and I cannot thank her enough for her support and years of hard work on my behalf, including securing a debate in parliament and a ministerial investigation into the affairs I had contacted her about.
Still – if you view all support of Ms Abbott as suspicious – you won’t be swayed by this, Mike.
It is an easy accusation to make because it is quite true.
I too am a constituent and follow my MP’s progress with interest and closely.
You must admit it comes across as suspicious when she asks the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department’s policies since 1997.
She asked it last week. Sounds like preparation for an election to me. I think finding out this info after 13 years is a bit late in the day.
Of course, not all the problems faced by Hackney are down to Diane not doing enough, but I also feel she has hardly been the voice of her constituents’ concerns in this matter, when she should be.
I like her as a person, but after 23 years as our MP I sense her enthusiasm has gone.
I am not one of these constituents who is bothered about where her son went to school or her expenses claims, I am only concerned about what she does to raise awareness of the issues and challenges the people of Hackney face.
I have lived in Hackney now for 12 years, iwas turned away from my interview for local work in hackney, because in never had a passport. well i was born in this counrty and no law states that i have to own one, its no wonder no local people are working there. i have been discriminated against for not owning a passport in my own country of birth
Hackney council have given me a flat they pay my rent and council tax. but will not allow me to work because i do not have apassport for ID.