Wirral workers were on construction companies' blacklist (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral workers were on construction companies' blacklist

3:47pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Stephanie Cureton

WIRRAL construction workers could have had their chances of landing a job sabotaged, according to trade unionists.

GMB, the union for construction workers, has revealed that 24 people in Wirral have been ‘blacklisted’ by companies for being involved with trade unions or health and safety experts.

The blacklist first came to light when in 2009, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) seized a Consulting Association database of 3,213 construction workers which was used by 44 companies to vet new recruits and keep out of employment trade union and health and safety activists.

The ICO never contacted anyone on the list to let them know they were blacklisted.

By autumn 2012 only 194 of the 3,213 people on the blacklist knew that they were on the list as they had contacted the ICO directly.

But after ICO finally agreed to supply names, date of birth, trade and town to enable a check against our own membership records to find their members on the blacklist.

And now GMB has found that there are 507 people in the North West who are on the blacklists, may whom are thought to be unaware of this.

Among those living or working in Wirral are 11 in Birkenhead; 1 in Noctorum; 2 in South Wirral; 2 in Tranmere; and 8 in Wallasey.

And GMB is urging anyone in Wirral who was a trade union and health and safety activist and was denied work for reasons they could not explain to get in touch so their records can be checked.

It is hoped there will be some form of compensation available to the 200 people who are already working with GMB.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, said "People have been deprived of an honest living through these illegal tactics which has blighted their families’ lives. They have been the victims of injustice over many years by multi- national companies- now seeking to live off public sector contracts.

“Not a single company has yet been punished nor have any of them paid compensation.

“GMB priority now is to step up the campaign to get each and every GMB members blacklisted proper compensation.”

The union is also calling on local councils not to award any new public work to the companies that operated the blacklist until they compensate those they damaged.

If you can help identify more names on the blacklist call Phil Read at GMB on 01603 742 877 or 07840 897997 or email p.read20@ntlworld.com .