16 January 2013

A council motion has been tabled to officially condemn blacklisting practices in Merseyside after 150 local people were found to be on blacklists due to being members of trade unions or other 'bothersome' behaviour such as being concerned about their health and safety at work and that of their colleagues.

Following an investigation by the Liverpool Echo, it has also been alleged that information held by the Consulting Association - which is known to have been the builder and maintainer of an extensive blacklist of construction workers - also included personal details on the men's family lives.

Many people whose names have been blacklisted have been effectively locked out of the sector and have struggled to find work.

Councillor Nick Small told the newspaper he had tabled a motion to condemn the practice at the council's next full meeting on Wednesday, making it the second local authority to stand up against blacklisters this month. Hull City Council recently announced it was banning companies who had used blacklists from bidding on public works contracts in the area.

GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny commented: "This is yet another example of Merseyside solidarity and the blacklisters would be well advised to heed it and act now to compensate those they have injured."

The IER's argument published as Ruined Lives - a book written by our President Keith Ewing and Commissioned by UCATT - is similar. We would like to see those who have been blacklisted being proactively sought out, given details of what information Consulting Association had on them, and properly compensated.

This is the publication blacklisting victim Jimmy Woods held aloft when he was photographed for the ECHO's article. We are proud to have provided expert information and critique to those campaigning against blacklisting, and to have seemingly had a hand in this victory for Merseyside.

But of course there is still more to be done. The IER would like to see a Leveson-style public inquiry held into blacklisting. With the Blacklist Support Group taking Sir Robert McAlpine to court and CEO of the company Cullum McAlpine giving evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee this month, we hope more information will be revealed about this abhorrent and undemocratic practice.

Ruined Lives is now on a cut-price sale. Click here to buy your copy