Union goes to court on behalf of blacklisted building workers

The Unite union is taking fresh legal action on behalf of a group of building workers whose names were found on a blacklist, making it difficult for them to find jobs.

One of the men, a Glasgowbased electrician, was forced to become self-employed because he could not get work on construction sites. He later went to work in the Far East, resulting in his marriage breaking down. His blacklist file read: “Extreme TM (troublemaker). Never employ under any circumstances.”

Another man, a carpenter from Birmingham, was unable to find work for years, spending a period having to claim unemployment benefit. His blacklist file read: “A real troublemaker and a pain in the neck. Would not like anyone else to be landed with him.” The two cases are among nine being pursued by Unite through the courts. Unite legal officer Howard Beckett said the men are keen to explain in open court what had happened to them, and the effect being blacklisted has had on their lives. The blacklisting scandal came to light in 2009 following a raid by the Information Commissioner’s Office on an organisation called the Consulting Association. It uncovered a list of over 3,000 workers, including details of trade union links.