Day of action planned over blacklisting

Safety & Health Practitioner

Following an announcement by eight companies in the construction industry to set up an industry-funded compensation scheme for workers who were blacklisted from working on building sites, various unions are calling for a day of action against blacklisting.

 

The TUC, GMB, UCATT and Unite unions, along with the Blacklist Support Group are calling for this day of action to be held on 20 November, with the aim being to get the industry to “own up, clean up, pay up”.

 

The TUC has said that the companies need to accept responsibility for what they have done in the past; ensure that it does not happen again, by having transparent recruitment procedures agreed with unions and properly monitored; and compensate all those who have suffered as a result of their actions. 

 

As part of the day of action on 20 November, there will be a lobby of parliament to put pressure on MPs to hold an inquiry.

 

Construction union UCATT has warned those companies involved in blacklisting that there is “no place to hide” following a parliamentary debate on the issue on 16 October.

 

UCATT are calling on the Government to introduce procurement rules to cover all public sector contracts that would bar companies involved in blacklisting from bidding for such work until all victims of blacklisting have been fully compensated.

 

Steve Murphy, general secretary of UCATT said: “Whatever else happens there must be a full public inquiry to resolve how blacklisting was allowed to occur, who was behind it and the role of the state, the police and the security forces in robbing workers of their right to earn a living.”

 

Natascha Engel, MP for North East Derbyshire said: “Workers and their families had their lives ruined by blacklisting. The Government must act to ensure that justice occurs and that there is a full public inquiry into blacklisting.”