Blacklist victims get their day in court


Blacklisted workers will demand compensation in court this week from eight construction firms for loss of earnings over decades.


More than 700 workers in the construction industry represented by unions UCATT, GMB and Unite have sued the companies for using a secret and illegal database for about 50 years to block those who reported breaches in health and safety from getting work.


The firms to stand as High Court defendants on Thursday, 7 April are Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Skanska, Kier, Vinci and Laing O’Rourke.


Last October, they admitted that they broke the law by subscribing to The Consulting Association, an organisation which maintained a list of trade unionists — effectively stopping them getting work — and by infringing rights of confidentiality, privacy, reputation and data protection.


Unions have already won £5.6 million in compensation for some victims.


www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-695d-Blacklist-victims-will-be-heard-at-last