Dundee City Council is being urged not to give contracts to companies using blacklists.
Labour councillor Richard McCready has written to the council’s chief executive seeking assurances after the GMB trade union announced that 21 construction workers from the city had been blacklisted.
They were among 582 people who were being illegally passed over for jobs on the basis of their trade union or health and safety activities.
The tally was revealed in the wake of an Information Commissioner’s Office raid on a company in Worcestershire.
Mr McCready said: “I am concerned about growing evidence that proves that blacklisting has been widespread in the construction industry. My trade union, the GMB, has produced compelling evidence of this practice.
“It is just wrong that people have been denied jobs as a result of their trade union activity. I have written to the chief executive seeking reassurances that the city council has a policy against blacklisting and that the council will not let contracts to companies which continue to operate blacklists.
“I think that it would be wrong for public money to be given to companies which have sacked workers or refused to employ them on the basis of their trade union activity. We must have fairness.
“Money from the public purse should be used wisely but I do not think that we can condone the practices of companies which operate blacklists.
“I hope that the council has a policy which means that contracts will only be given to companies which have open, transparent and fair employment practices.
“I look forward to hearing about Dundee City Council’s policy and if necessary take action.”
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern, who has already spoken out against the blacklisting, is urging the companies behind the central waterfront redevelopment and the refurbishment of what will become the Malmaison hotel to use as many local workers as possible.
He said: “With the Government’s welfare-to-work programme failing to help the vast majority of those in Dundee who are unemployed, we should use any opportunity to reduce the unemployment that is currently blighting our communities.”
grsmith@thecourier.co.uk