Council supports blacklist victims

The GMB union welcolmed news on Friday of Knowsley Borough Council supporting its campaign.

"Blacklisting is an unacceptable practice and cannot be condoned," the motion passed by councillors noted.

"Owing to the concentration of construction activity in and around large cities, many of those alleged to have been discriminated against live in the country's major cities, and undoubtedly this practice has disadvantaged residents of Knowsley.

"Given the potential impact on residents of this borough, the Council resolves to support the GMB campaign."

The blacklisting scandal erupted last year when the names of 3,213 workers, who had been put on a watchlist because of their union activities, for having backgrounds in action over health and safety issues, and other work-related activities, were revealed by the Information Commissioners Office.

Forty-four companies used a database ran by private agency the Consulting Association to vet new recruits.

To date only 194 workers have been compensated.

The GMB launched a campaign in June with the publication of a report entitled: Blacklisting - illegal corporate bullying endemic, systemic and deep-rooted in Carillion and other companies.

Much of the report's information was released in the course of an employment tribunal earlier this year when contractor Carillion was accused of blacklisting a construction worker in London.

The GMB said: "Firms involved should get no more of the public work they are bidding for until they apologise and compensate those they blacklisted."