Unions protest against construction blacklisting in Dundee

A march and rally against companies involved in “blacklisting” union members in the construction sector was held in Dundee on Saturday.

Around 200 workers and friends marched through the city centre to Yeaman Shore, where the protest targeted construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine, main contractors for the Dundee Waterfront project.

Construction workers are demanding black-listing companies be banned from tendering for future public contracts and for the Scottish Government to launch an independent inquiry into blacklisting across Scotland.

Cullum McAlpine, a director at Sir Robert McAlpine, confirmed to MPs last week the company had checked workers against the list to protect against “deliberately disruptive or unlawful” behaviour on sites.

Unite regional industrial officer Rab Sherry, who himself was blacklisted, said: “It’s against McAlpine and other firms who are blacklisting known union members and activists.

“They’ve got quite a bit of work at the waterfront and they’re one of the main firms involved in blacklisting.”