by Phil Chamberlain
THE Prime Minister has indicated that the Government is prepared to ban blacklisting.
Asked by Michael Clapham, Labour MP for Barnsley West & Penistone, at Prime Minister’s Questions last week whether it was now time to bring in regulations to prohibit the practice, Gordon Brown said: “I am, as are the whole Government, very concerned by the evidence uncovered by the Information Commissioner about the re-emergence of blacklisting in the construction industry. We are looking urgently at what we can do. We will assess whether the 2003 regulations, amended as necessary, should now be introduced to the House of Commons.”
The Information Commissioner’s Office raided Ian Kerr’s Consulting Association company in February and seized a database containing the names of 3,200 workers described as “union activists” or “troublemakers”. More than 40 firms – including Balfour Beatty, Costain and McAlpine – subscribed to the controversial service.
One of the workers who has subsequently seen his file is electrician Steve Kelly, a member of Unite. The 18 page document has his home address, National Insurance number, letters he wrote to newspapers, copies of leaflets advertising meetings and a copy of union branch meeting minutes. It also contains allegations that he is a “trouble maker”, “trade union militant” and “strike organiser” engaged in “intimidating workers to join the union” and “threatening supervisors”.
UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie said: “I am pleased the Prime Minister has indicated that blacklisting will be banned.”
