Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

BlacklistingEmployee relationsTrade unions

Blacklisted construction workers to receive millions in compensation

by Jo Faragher 9 May 2016
by Jo Faragher 9 May 2016 REX/Shutterstock
REX/Shutterstock

Construction workers whose names appeared on a secret industry blacklist have won millions in compensation.

The Unite union has reached a settlement with several construction companies which will see 256 workers sharing more than £10 million in compensation.

Trade union recognition

Can a job applicant be rejected for employment on the grounds they are a member of a trade union? 

The consequences of trade union recognition

Trade union recognition agreement 

On 6 May, the GMB and Ucatt unions also reached a settlement against eight construction companies on behalf of their members.

This totalled £5.4 million plus costs, and some members could receive between £25,000 and £200,000. However, the GMB estimates that total compensation for blacklisting could reach around £75 million across almost 800 claimants.

The companies involved in this case were Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Keir, Lang O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska and Vinci.

In October 2015, a number of construction companies issued an unreserved apology in a submission to the High Court, where they accepted that their vetting information system “infringed workers’ rights to confidentiality, privacy, reputation and latterly data protection”.

Reacting to the latest settlement, Dave Smith, secretary of the Blacklist Support Group, said: “Despite all of the denials and attempts to cover up their secret conspiracy, the largest multinationals in the construction sector have been forced to pay out millions in compensation.

“Make no mistake, the High Court action is a historic victory for the trade union movement against the vicious face of free market capitalism.”

The blacklisted construction workers were identified in 2009 when the Information Commissioner’s office raided an organisation called The Consulting Association.

Some of the information held on workers included details of their personal relationships, or inflammatory language such as “will cause trouble”, “Irish ex-army”, “ex-shop steward”.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “The sums to be paid out go a considerable way to acknowledge the hurt, suffering and loss of income our members and their families have been through over many years.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“The wheels of justice may turn slowly but, like Hillsborough, eventually justice is done and is seen to be done.”

The companies involved have agreed to issue guidance to site managers to ensure blacklisting does not occur again at a local level.

Jo Faragher

Jo Faragher has been an employment and business journalist for 20 years. She regularly contributes to Personnel Today and writes features for a number of national business and membership magazines. Jo is also the author of 'Good Work, Great Technology', published in 2022 by Clink Street Publishing, charting the relationship between effective workplace technology and productive and happy employees. She won the Willis Towers Watson HR journalist of the year award in 2015 and has been highly commended twice.

previous post
Five tips to secure top-level buy-in for learning initiatives
next post
Direct discrimination in the workplace: motive of final decision-maker is key

You may also like

‘Polygamous working’ is a minefield for HR

14 May 2025

Ofgem workers ballot for strike action

2 May 2025

Employment Rights Bill must be tightened to protect...

1 May 2025

Four ways HR can maintain trust in uncertain...

23 Apr 2025

Uber drivers experience ‘false autonomy’ over work

16 Apr 2025

Redefining employee relations for the future of work...

27 Mar 2025

BMA employees protest over pay and recognition

19 Mar 2025

P&O Ferries scandal: Employment Rights Bill must protect...

17 Mar 2025

Handling headcount conundrums as hiring confidence dips

10 Mar 2025

New employment rights top priority for HR teams

10 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+