Call for action against construction worker ‘blacklisting’

The process of “blacklisting” construction workers is alive and well in the North-East, a politician has claimed.

North East MSP Richard Baker has called on Scottish Ministers to ensure firms contracted to work on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route are not engaged in such activities.

The Labour politician has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling on Ministers to launch an inquiry into blacklisting in light of an edition of BBC TV programme Panorama.

It included allegations from a construction worker who believed he had been a victim of blacklisting practices while working on the London Crossrail project.

Some of the firms bidding for contracts on the controversial ring road also had contracts for work on London Crossrail.

Mr Baker said: “The BBC’s Panorama programme highlights the devastating impact blacklisting has had on workers who were put on these secret lists simply for highlighting health and safety concerns or trade union activities, and we know workers in the North East have suffered from blacklisting too.”