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| Unions call for national day of protests over blacklisting | Unions call for national day of protests over blacklisting |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Trade unions have announced a national day of action in support of workers who have been blacklisted after raising legitimate health and safety concerns. | Trade unions have announced a national day of action in support of workers who have been blacklisted after raising legitimate health and safety concerns. |
| The co-ordinated event on 20 November will involve protests and a lobby of parliament, as well as renewed calls for a Leveson-style inquiry into the issue, which unions say has devastated the lives of thousands of people in the past decade. | The co-ordinated event on 20 November will involve protests and a lobby of parliament, as well as renewed calls for a Leveson-style inquiry into the issue, which unions say has devastated the lives of thousands of people in the past decade. |
| The general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Frances O'Grady, said blacklisting had to be "stamped out once and for all" by making it a criminal offence punishable by prison and unlimited fines. | The general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Frances O'Grady, said blacklisting had to be "stamped out once and for all" by making it a criminal offence punishable by prison and unlimited fines. |
| She said: "There is a clear need for a Leveson-style inquiry into blacklisting to make sure it is stamped out once and for all. It is essential that companies who have blacklisted workers own up, clean up and pay up. | She said: "There is a clear need for a Leveson-style inquiry into blacklisting to make sure it is stamped out once and for all. It is essential that companies who have blacklisted workers own up, clean up and pay up. |
| "Blacklisting is a shameful practice that has no place in a modern society. It causes misery for those blacklisted and their families and it puts lives at risk. | "Blacklisting is a shameful practice that has no place in a modern society. It causes misery for those blacklisted and their families and it puts lives at risk. |
| "It is scandalous that so many people's livelihoods have been ruined or put at risk just for raising health and safety concerns. | "It is scandalous that so many people's livelihoods have been ruined or put at risk just for raising health and safety concerns. |
| "The government cannot sit on the fence any longer. Blacklisting must be made a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment and an unlimited fine." | "The government cannot sit on the fence any longer. Blacklisting must be made a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment and an unlimited fine." |
| Thousands of names of mainly construction workers were found on a list held by a group called the Consulting Association, when its offices were raided in 2009 by the Information Commissioner's Office. Unions said the workers were denied employment, often for being an activist or raising health and safety issues. | Thousands of names of mainly construction workers were found on a list held by a group called the Consulting Association, when its offices were raided in 2009 by the Information Commissioner's Office. Unions said the workers were denied employment, often for being an activist or raising health and safety issues. |
| O'Grady, speaking at the TUC congress in Bournemouth, said they were unhappy that companies who have blacklisted workers have still not been held accountable. | O'Grady, speaking at the TUC congress in Bournemouth, said they were unhappy that companies who have blacklisted workers have still not been held accountable. |
| Meanwhile, Unite has agreed a settlement with Crossrail contractors BFK and JV following a year-long row over alleged blacklisting on the £15bn engineering project. The settlement will see the worker at the centre of the dispute reemployed. | |
| Unite's assistant general secretary, Gail Cartmail, welcomed the plans for a day of action. "Unite is 100% behind the TUC day of action against blacklisting and we will be urging our activists to take part. | Unite's assistant general secretary, Gail Cartmail, welcomed the plans for a day of action. "Unite is 100% behind the TUC day of action against blacklisting and we will be urging our activists to take part. |
| "The burden of proof weighs heavily on workers who find themselves blacklisted and even where there is compelling evidence, this is met with denial. Across construction there remains a staggering complacency, which must change. | "The burden of proof weighs heavily on workers who find themselves blacklisted and even where there is compelling evidence, this is met with denial. Across construction there remains a staggering complacency, which must change. |
| "Unite firmly believes blacklisting continues and we need politicians to act. The only way to consign this morally indefensible practice to the history books is to strengthen legislation against blacklisting to give the law real teeth." | "Unite firmly believes blacklisting continues and we need politicians to act. The only way to consign this morally indefensible practice to the history books is to strengthen legislation against blacklisting to give the law real teeth." |
| Bill Parry, a member of the building workers' union Ucatt, who was on the Consulting Association blacklist, said in a debate during the TUC congress: "I want justice for every single person who was blacklisted, and we need to ensure that never happens again, in construction or any other industry. | Bill Parry, a member of the building workers' union Ucatt, who was on the Consulting Association blacklist, said in a debate during the TUC congress: "I want justice for every single person who was blacklisted, and we need to ensure that never happens again, in construction or any other industry. |
| "What is truly sickening is the hollow crocodile tears from the construction companies who have said they are sorry." | "What is truly sickening is the hollow crocodile tears from the construction companies who have said they are sorry." |
| • This story was amended on 9 September 2013. The original said that Unite had reached an agreement with Crossrail, and not the Crossrail contractors. This has been corrected |