Congress backs UCATT call for an immediate ban on blacklisting

(Wednesday 22 April 2009)

by Malcolm Burns in Perth

IN a passionate speech on an emergency resolution on blacklisting, construction union UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie won the unanimous support of congress to call for immediate legislation to outlaw the practice.

"Last month, it was proved that blacklisting is endemic in the construction industry," he told delegates.

"Forty major companies have been paying an affiliation of £3,000 a year to The Consulting Association to get personal details of workers. And, because our members are trade unionists, companies have been blacklisting them and stopping them from being employed."

Mr Ritchie said that, for decades, UCATT has raised the issue, but the companies had denied the practice took place and the government always claimed there was no evidence. Now the evidence has been provided in a report from the Information Commissioner.

The resolution calls for a new law to prohibit the making, keeping or circulation of a blacklist and put employers under a legal obligation to disclose any lists that they hold.

"This Labour government has a moral obligation to this movement to make sure blacklisting is ended," he said.

"We also call on the Scottish government, which gives multimillion-pound contracts to these companies, to make it illegal to operate a blacklist."

Congress also passed a resolution calling for improved employment rights for migrant and vulnerable workers.

CWU delegate John Brown said: "Some of the most vulnerable workers are also migrant workers and are often exploited by unscrupulous employers."

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