Construction workers will have one powerful union voice on their side fighting for them from 1 January 2017, as members of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) voted by 85.5% on 2 November to merge with Britain’s largest union, Unite.

The move sees UCATT and Unite’s construction membership combining to form one union. Both unions said their combined resources and expertise would zero in on ending ‘bogus’ self-employment and stopping firms indulging in a race to the bottom by undercutting pay.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “This is a historic moment for the construction industry and the men and women who work in it. From January 2017, construction workers will for the first time have one united powerful union on their side at work.

“Bad bosses and construction firms employing sharp practices should beware. Our new combined industrial voice will be used to defend the rights of construction workers across the UK and to campaign for secure decent jobs that pay the rate for the job.”

Over the coming weeks, Unite and UCATT will be finalising details ahead of UCATT’s formal transfer to Unite on 1 January.

Brian Rye, UCATT acting general secretary, said: “By joining with Unite, the industrial muscle of all construction workers will double overnight, which is good news for all members.

“Employers are going to have to get used to dealing with one voice and one union. They need to understand that shoddy and underhand practices including; dismissing workers without warning, exploiting workers by paying them via agencies or umbrella companies and ignoring key safety laws will not be tolerated and will be exposed.”