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Union says McAlpine had an Olympic blacklist

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Construction union UCATT has accused construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine of using blacklisting checks to vet workers building the 2012 Olympic stadium. Union leaders gave evidence last week to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee probe into the industry's blacklist run by the now defunct The Consulting Association. General secretary Steve Murphy revealed how during The Consulting Association's final year of operation Sir Robert McAlpine paid £26,842.20 for background checks on workers. Murphy drew the committee's attention to the spike in Sir Robert McAlpine's blacklisting activity in the 3rd quarter of 2008. From July-September 2008 McAlpine spent £12,839.20 making 5,836 blacklist checks - a total of 63 per day. The union leader showed how this peak corresponded with McAlpine's building of the Olympic Stadium which began construction in late May 2008. McAlpine is currently subject to a legal damages claim by blacklisted workers. It told trade news website Construction Enquirer that, in the light of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment.

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