Report on blacklisted Brickies in the North West

MORE than 20 people from Lancashire are on a blacklist of construction workers banned by some of Britain’s biggest builders, it can be revealed.

The Evening Post understands six people from Preston are on the list kept by a industry-funded firm, the Consulting Association, and was seized in 2009 by the Information Commissioner’s office.  There are a further four workers from Chorley, five from Lancaster and another seven from the rest of the county.

Coun Phil Crowe, member of Preston Council for Larches ward, said 'thousands' of construction workers across the country had been ‘blacklisted’ by major contractors and denied jobs on multi-million pound projects.  He told a meeting of the authority that “livelihoods and been crushed and reputations tarnished” by the process which he said saw members of trade unions placed on the list.  The Labour councillor told fellow councillors: 'The vast majority do not even know why they are being turned down for work and it is sickening to think public money is being used for blacklisting on projects like the Olympic Park.'

He then gave examples of workers from the North West construction workers which had been placed on the blacklist.  Coun Crowe said: 'It is like something out of Victorian times.'

Fellow Coun Mark Yates said blacklisting had been 'rife in the construction industry for decades.'

The council passed a notice of motion saying the blacklists had “disadvantages residents of Preston” and supported a campaign led by the GMB, Unite and UCATT unions to force firms involved in blacklisting to apologise.

The Information Commissioner has taken enforcement action against a number of construction companies based on the evidence recovered from the Consulting Association.

Are you one of the blacklisted workers? Tell us your story, telephone 01772 838162.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/business/builders-on-the-brickie-blacklist-1-5266158