Unions have welcomed publication of new regulations designed to outlaw the blacklisting of trade unionists. The laws, which need parliamentary approval before taking effect, were announced on 2 December by employment relations minister Lord Young.<\/p>\n
Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT<\/a>, said: \u201cBlacklisting is a disgraceful, underhand practice. Until early this year most major construction companies were involved in the blacklisting of workers. The introductions of laws, which are designed to prevent blacklisting, are welcome and long overdue. Never again must the lives of workers and their families be ruined because of blacklisting.\u201d<\/p>\n The union said it will explore with sympathetic backbench Labour MPs if the regulations can be strengthened when they are debated in the House of Commons. Mr Ritchie, said: \u201cUCATT will be working with members of parliament in order to ensure that when the blacklisting regulations are finally introduced they are as robust as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n