UNITE, the UK’s leading union, has held a protest at a Mott MacDonald’s construction site in Cumbria due to the alleged 'union-busting' activities of its 'strategic business partner' J Murphy and Sons Ltd.

The dispute is a result of the 'wrongful sacking' of four Unite members - including a Unite rep - by J Murphy and Sons Ltd’s Irish subsidiary Murphy International Ltd. Unite has labelled the members' dismissals 'union busting'.

The workers, who were undertaking work at a site in the Republic of Ireland, were reportedly dismissed after organising a meeting of 15 workers to discuss what Unite claim was Murphy’s non-payment of travel and subsistence payments.

After a period of two months, where the workers were suspended without pay, the four workers were singled out and dismissed for not showing 'remorse', according to the union.

Despite pressure from Unite, the company has not reinstated the workers.

Unite members protested outside the Mott MacDonald site in Moor Row on Thursday.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Murphy’s behaviour is deplorable, and it is guilty of flagrant union busting. No reputable company should have anything to do with Murphy’s considering the manner in which it treats its workers.

“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.”

The protest is just one of a large number that Unite is holding across the UK and internationally to apply further pressure on the company to reinstate the workers.

If Murphy 'fails to act', according to the union, the protests and ensuing disruption to clients and contractors associated with the company will 'further intensify'.

Protests about this issue were held in Whitehaven and Moor Row earlier this month.

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.”