Construction workers placed on a recruitment blacklist have been granted millions in compensation…
The legal battle against major construction firm who placed so-called troublesome workers on a recruitment blacklist has concluded with some £10m compensation handed out.
The 256 workers represented by union Unite were awarded the money depending upon how the blacklist impacted them financial through issues such as loss of earnings.
The blacklist was brought to light in 2009, after the Information Commissioners Office raided the office where the files were kept. The operation was shut down, but more than 40 construction firms were found to have covertly funded it.
Alan Wainwright, who exposed how thousands of workers had been blacklisted and prevented from gaining employment by major firms, sued more than 35 companies last month for preventing him from gaining employment.
The blacklisting operation was funded by large construction firms and run from an anonymous office in Droitwich, Worcestershire. Employees were checked against the list before they were hired.
The files on workers included details of their trade union activities, as well as their employment history. Labels were attached to workers such as “lazy and a trouble-stirrer”, “communist party”, and “do not touch”. Workers were denied employment as a result, often without knowing why.
The construction sector denied “blacklisting” charges, which is supposed to automatically discriminate against “difficult” workers. However, it accepts firms were involved in vetting employees secretly, which did infringe on confidentially, privacy, reputation, and data protection.
Claims were levelled at some of the largest construction firms, including Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska UK, and Vinci.
Dave Smith, secretary of the Blacklist Support Group, said: “Despite all of the denials and attempts to cover up their secret conspiracy, the largest multinationals in the construction sector have been forced to pay out millions in compensation.
“Make no mistake, the High Court action is a historic victory for the trade union movement against the vicious face of free market capitalism.”
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “The sums to be paid out go a considerable way to acknowledge the hurt, suffering and loss of income our members and their families have been through over many years,” he said.
Tim Roache, GMB general secretary also commented: “Finally they have been held to account in public and at great cost to them financially and reputationally. Government and employers’ organisations must never forget this sordid episode.”