Employment Relations Minister Lord Young has unveiled plans to make it unlawful for firms to refuse to employ trade union members featured on a blacklist.

The move comes in response to revelations earlier in the year that firms in the construction industry had been routinely using blacklists to vet workers illegally. The Government held a public consultation on the issue during the summer, and these new measures are a response to the opinions collected.

Lord Young commented: “Blacklisting someone because they are a member of a trade union is totally unacceptable.

“There is already legal protection against the misuse of people’s personal details. We will now strengthen the law by introducing new regulations to outlaw the compilation, dissemination and use of blacklists.

“The Government is determined to stamp out this despicable practice and our legislative proposals are a proportionate and robust response.”

The new regulations are designed to:

• Make it illegal for employers to refuse employment or sack workers because they appear on a blacklist.
• Make it illegal for employment agencies to refuse to provide a service based on appearing on a blacklist.
• Entitle workers or unions to pursue compensation or solicit action against organisations that compile, distribute or utilise blacklists.

UCATT, the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, welcomed the introduction of the new regulations. Alan Richie, General Secretary of the Union, stated: “Blacklisting is a disgraceful, underhand practice. Until early this year, most major construction companies were involved in the blacklisting of workers.

“The introduction of laws which are designed to prevent blacklisting is welcome and long overdue. Never again must the lives of workers and their families be ruined because of blacklisting.”

The Government intends to bring the regulations before Parliament as soon as possible. Before they can be implemented, they will have to be debated and approved by both the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

If they do receive the approval of Parliament, the regulations could be brought into force early next year.

Technorati Tags: Employee Blacklisting, UCATT, UK Employment Law