Blacklisting inquiry reaffirmed by BSG

The Blacklist Support Group (BSG) has declared its satisfaction with progress in the inquiry into possible collusion by construction union officials in blacklisting.

Last year, Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite general union, beefed up arrangements for the investigation, which is investigating potential involvement by past or current officials of the union.

She announced it would be conducted by independent lawyers and overseen by a panel including blacklisted workers.

BSG representatives recently met with the lawyers appointed and said they are satisfied that they are independent from Unite and Thompson’s Solicitors, which has a client relationship with the union.

The BSG reps also said they were confident the investigation would be thorough, and based on evidence, not hearsay.

The lawyers have already been collating existing documentary evidence and interviewing individuals who have offered to provide oral evidence.

They told BSG they will soon be contacting people who they think might have relevant information, and that in the future they will be conducting a forensic search of Unite’s electronic database.

BSG says it continues to “encourage anyone who may have relevant information to contact the collusion investigation”.