Blacklisting ‘must be wholly eradicated under employment law’

Posted 09/12/2009

A trade union has criticised proposed employment law changes designed to combat blacklisting, suggesting they do not go far enough to protect workers.

The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (Ucatt) has expressed “outrage” at what it considers to be loopholes in the government’s proposals that will allow bosses to discriminate against safety representatives and campaigners.

Ucatt raised particular concern about the decision not to outlaw blacklisting of those participating in legal but unofficial strike action over serious health and safety concerns in the workplace.

The union’s general secretary Alan Ritchie stated that the proposals can therefore be said to favour blacklisting in many situations, making them “entirely inadequate”.

He said: “The government has repeatedly promised to outlaw blacklisting.

“The proposed regulations fail to achieve this.”

These suggested regulatory changes come in response to a recent government consultation on blacklisting, to which Ucatt contributed.

Earlier this month, Mr Ritchie described the practice as “disgraceful and underhand” and called for it to be brought to an end.