TUC announces day of action against blacklisting

date: 8 September 2013

embargo: For immediate release

The TUC has today (Sunday) announced that it is to hold a national day of action against blacklisting on Wednesday 20 November.

Protests will be held up and down the country and there will be lobby of Parliament in London.

The TUC and unions are unhappy that companies who have blacklisted workers have still not been held accountable. They want a Leveson-style inquiry into the practice.

The TUC and unions are calling on the government to introduce the following measures:

• A judge-led inquiry must be carried out into the practice of blacklisting.
• All companies must be asked if they have ever complied, used, sold or supplied information that could be used for blacklisting.
• Companies that refuse to comply or apologise and compensate victims if they have engaged in blacklisting should be barred from bidding for any public sector contracts.
• Blacklisting should be made a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady 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. 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.'

Blacklisting will be debated at the TUC's annual conference in Bournemouth this afternoon.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The day of action will be coordinated by the TUC with the support of all the main unions in the construction industry. There will a lobby of Parliament in London, along with other activities up and down the country including events in Scotland and Wales.

- Times and speakers at the Central London lobby will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk