MPs urged to oppose blacklisting

10.03.09 - Helen Symons

MPs asked to support EDM 1020 to oppose blacklisting

Following last week's news about blacklisting in the construction industry, trade unions are calling on MPs to support Early Day Motion 1020. The Commons motion calls on the government to act now to ban employers and agencies from blacklisting workers.

If you have a few minutes to spare, take a look at whether your MP has signed up yet, and if not then drop them a line to ask them to support this important campaign.

Advice for workers who think they may have been blacklisted

UCATT is also providing advice for workers who think they may have been blacklisted. They say:

The Consulting Association, held and developed data on construction workers, including personal information, marital status, employment history, and trade union membership and activity. Details on more than 3,200 persons were held in the database, many of them could be UCATT members, who due to the blacklist were barred from employment. The company is now facing prosecution by the Information Commissioner's Office.

Over 40 construction companies, including the majority of major UK construction firms, bought the data from the firm before employing new workers.

Companies investigating about workers before employment include Balfour Beatty, Bam Nuttall, Costain, Kier, Laing O'Rourke, Morgan Ashurst, Shepherd, Robert McAlpine, Skanska and many others. For the full list of companies, click here.

If you are concerned you could have been on the blacklist by The Consulting Association you need to contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

You can call the ICO Helpline on 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 545 745. The Helpline will be able to answer the enquiries only from Monday, 16 March 2009, 9.00am.

You will need to provide your name, date of birth and National Insurance number.