26
July
2013
A Trade union leader has expressed ‘anger and sadness’ over the blacklisting of East Lancashire construction workers.
Five unknown workers from Blackburn and four from Chorley were among 224 on the national list used by a subsidiary of construction firm Carillon, seized by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
It was one of many retained in a raid by the office of the construction industry-funded organisation, the Consulting Association, after intelligence suggested a breach of the Data Protection Act.
The General Members Union (GMB) says the names of 3,213 workers who highlighted health and safety concerns on construction sites were listed.
The lists were used by more than 40 firms to vet potential employees from the mid-1990s to early 2000s. Carillon maintained its subsidiary, Crown House, used the database to find out whether electricians it intended to engage on projects had been involved in disruptive behaviour that could potentially pose a threat to projects or others.
GMB Trade Union believes as many as 60 people, mainly active trade union lay leaders from Lancashire may be on the database, the majority of which is yet to be released by the ICO.
It said that fewer that 10 per cent of blacklisted workers in the North West are aware that they may have been blacklisted.
North West GMB Trade Union political officer Neil Smith spoke as the union’s attempt to gain compensation for its 70 members on the list reached High Court. He said: “I feel saddened and very angry that this is still going on and that people are being punished for daring to ask for fundamental rights. “These names represent the tip of the iceberg.”
Richard Howson, Carillion chief executive, said: “Carillion is sorry that one of its former subsidiary businesses used the Consulting Association's database. This was not consistent with the high standards of behaviour we set for ourselves.”
