‘Inadequate’ blacklisting law is delayed

Construction union UCATT says it has won a delay in the implementation of a blacklisting law, after raising concerns about the adequacy of the measures.

The union says it wrote to and contacted directly members of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, expressing “grave concerns” about the proposed law. It says when the committee met on 20 January to consider the regulations, a decision was made to delay ratifying the regulations for a week, as the committee were concerned that the proposals do not comply with human rights obligations.

UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie said: “The pause in the parliamentary process is welcome. Outlawing blacklisting is a fundamental issue for UCATT. The government now has the opportunity to rethink and redraft regulations which as they stand are entirely inadequate to stamp out blacklisting.”

The union wants the law amended to make blacklisting a criminal offence and for a wider definition of the “trade union activities” falling in the scope of the measures. It also wants workers to be told automatically if their details are discovered to be on an illegal blacklist.