A Dundee councillor is urging the local authority to make a stand against the practice of “unacceptable” blacklisting.
West End councillor Richard McCready has proposed a motion which he wants the council to adopt, opposing the practice of firms denying employment to workers who have been engaged in trade union activity.
This activity has included the reporting of health and safety breaches.
Mr McCready said: “Dundee City Council has considerable financial clout and we should be using this for the benefit of the people of Dundee.
“I think that the council should be looking at what we can do to combat blacklisting.
“The Scottish Affairs Select Committee has highlighted that blacklisting of workers has gone on in the construction industry.
“People have been denied work because they have been concerned about health and safety or been active in their trade union. I think that this is unacceptable.”
Mr McCready said workers should not be discriminated against because they are trade unionists and wants the council to ensure that no publicly-funded contracts go to companies which are involved in blacklisting.
“Workers should be actively encouraged to have a concern for health and safety, they should not be discriminated against for it,” he added.
Mr McCready also wants the council to support the campaign by trade unions against the operation of blacklists and, where permitted by legislation, exclude companies involved in blacklisting of trade unionists from future approved suppliers’ lists.
He wants the council to write to the Scottish Government urging the inclusion of clauses in future Scottish bills covering public procurement to prevent companies involved in blacklisting from securing public sector contracts.
“I want Dundee City Council to make a stand and say that we are opposed to blacklisting and that we will work hard to ensure that no public money is spent on contracts with companies which operate a blacklist,” said Mr McCready.
“This is an issue of fairness. The city council should be working to ensure that all workers, whether employed directly by the council or indirectly via contracts, are treated fairly.”
A march and rally against companies involved in blacklisting union members in the construction sector was held in Dundee in March.