Unite strengthens investigation into blacklisting collusion

Unite has announced it is strengthening its investigation into alleged collusion with blacklisting in the construction industry by past or present union officers.

The gathering of evidence to be fed into an independent QC-led inquiry is to be overseen by a panel of lay members with personal experience of blacklisting.

They include Dave Smith, chair of the Blacklist Support Group (BSG), and the two Unite executive council members for the construction sector who were blacklisted.

In particular, the panel:

• will agree the appointment and oversee the work of external forensic data experts to search the union’s servers for any evidence of collusion; and

• are finalising the appointment and will oversee the work of external lawyers, who are responsible for sorting and passing on any relevant evidence found in the Unite searches to the QC who leads the inquiry.

Smith said the BSG “applauds this announcement of a beefed up and more independent investigation.

“Any lingering doubts about the independence of the investigation have now been removed.”