Blacklisting regulations

Construction workers’ union UCATT has warned that new blacklisting regulations introduced in Northern Ireland from 6 April are too weak and narrow in their scope.

The regulations only prevent workers from being blacklisted for “trade union activities” meaning that a worker who is blacklisted for other reasons like unofficial strike action or raising health and safety concerns, would not be covered.

The new regulations do not make blacklisting a criminal offence. They also do not give blacklisted workers the right to be informed about their name being included, and there is no automatic right to compensation.

Steve Murphy, general secretary of UCATT, said: “These regulations are too weak ... Only very strong effective laws will act as a true deterrent to employers who are prepared to blacklist workers.”

www.ucatt.org.uk/northern-ireland-blacklisting-regulations-wont-end-practice