Government Promises End To Construction Blacklisting

Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour Party, told the House of Commons today that the Government would be working with the Information Commissioner and Ucatt to put an end to blacklisting in the construction industry and ensure that these "scurrilous activities" will never happen again. She was replying to a Parliamentary question from Mick Clapham, the Ucatt-sponsored MP.

Mick Clapham had tabled an Early Day Motion demanding that the laws on blacklisting, which are already in place, should be implemented immediately.The 1999 Employment Relations Act included provisions to make blacklisting illegal but these provisions have never been enacted into law. Over 70 MPs have already signed the Early Day Motion.

Alan Ritchie, Ucatt general secretary, said: "I am pleased that the Government is committed to outlawing blacklists. It will be the first step in the fight for justice for our members who have been discriminated against and denied work purely because of their trade union activities."