Hull council bans blacklist companies

Hull council voted unanimously with support from all parties to remove blacklisting firms from all council contracts at its full council meeting last month.

A motion proposed by Labour councillor Joyce Korczak Fields to the council on December 20 stated: "A number of construction companies have been challenged about supporting the existence of and subscribing to construction industry 'blacklists,' which detail covertly and potentially illegally gathered information on trade union members in the construction industry.

She said blacklisting is "unacceptable" and "cannot be condoned," adding that the given the concentration of construction projects in major cities, the practice has "undoubtedly disadvantaged residents of Hull.

"Given the potential impact on residents of this city, the council resolves to support the GMB campaign and, where permitted by legislation, not include companies who have been identified as using this information on our approved suppliers list for all future work," Ms Fields added.

She also recognised the anti-blacklisting campaign led by the GMB union, which is trying to get apologies and compensation paid to those who have been unable to work in construction as a result of blacklisting.

Evidence of blacklisting emerged in 2009 following a raid on the offices of the Consulting Association run by the late Ian Kerr.

The Information Commissioner's Office found that around 40 construction firms were paid subscribers to a database giving details of thousands of workers and trade union activists.

Dave Smith from Blacklist Support Group said workers "applauded" the council's decision to exclude blacklisting firms from public contracts in Hull.

He called on other local authorities to follow their lead "until the blacklisting firms apologise and compensate the workers whose lives they have ruined. They have destroyed careers in order to increase their profits. 

"As profits are the only thing that the blacklisting companies are interested in, perhaps losing publicly funded projects will make them own up to their responsibilities," Mr Smith said.