22 March 2013

Construction union UCATT has secured some protection against blacklisting for UK workers in the industry.

Many employees in the sector have historically found it difficult to find a job if they are members of trade unions, have been involved in trade union activity, or have raised concerns about health and safety standards due to the widespread use of blacklists in the industry.

While the Scottish Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into blacklisting in the construction industry, and members of the Blacklist Support Group take Sir Robert McAlpine to court, UCATT have secured another win for workers with the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC).

The organisation agreed to insert an anti-blacklisting clause into its Working Rule Agreement following pressure from General Secretary of the union Steve Murphy. The clause says that the body "does not condone any form of blacklisting of any worker".

Murphy explained why he felt this was a "major step forward" in the fight against blacklisting.

"The majority of the major companies responsible for blacklisting follow the CIJC agreement," he stated. "By inserting this clause we are a further step forward in eradicating blacklisting from our industry for once and for all."

UCATT commissioned now bestselling IER publication on blacklisting Ruined Lives by Keith Ewing. The book is now on a cut-price sale. Read more and purchase the publication here

See all IER resources on blacklisting here