Blacklisting outlawed

Apologies for the long delay in posting. Work got in the way.

So I haven't been able to formally say that the regulations outlawing blacklisting have now been approved and are law.

There has been a lot of criticism that they are drawn too narrowly to work effectively. Alan Ritchie at the UCATT said:

“The Government has entirely rejected all UCATT submissions and attempts to have the regulations amended to ensure that blacklisting was stamped out. Fortunately for Lord Young blacklisting doesn’t occur in the House of Lords but ordinary construction workers are not so privileged.”

 

UCATT have argued that the regulations were deficient as they did not make blacklisting a specific criminal offence and only prevented workers from being blacklisted for undertaking, the narrowly defined, “trade union activities”. The Government has given the green light to employers to blacklist workers for undertaking unofficial industrial action, which could include stopping work due to safety fears or a refusal to undertake voluntary overtime.

 

The regulations also fail to grant an automatic right to compensation for any worker who discovers that they have been blacklisted. If a blacklist is discovered workers will not be automatically told that they had been blacklisted.

 

Mr Ritchie, added: “Cynical construction employers will recognise the weakness of the regulations and could continue to blacklist workers. They know that they are unlikely to get caught and if they do they will merely get a slap on the wrist. UCATT will continue to campaign to have the regulations overhauled so that they are truly effective in stamping out this despicable practice once and for all.”

But at least the default position of employers that there is no evidence of blacklisting has been removed. It has been proved to take place and it makes it harder to dismiss allegations in the future.

Meanwhile it seems a sanctioned register of staff to be denied employment appears to have gone belly-up. The National Staff Dismissal Register might still be advertised online but apparently employers aren't taking up the offer. Unless people know otherwise, in which case let me know.

Comments

[BristleKRS]

Welcome back - refreshed and remunerated I hope!

I have a shocking accusation to put to you, though - I believe you have succumb to the scourge of homophonia...

Third para: "...drawn to narrowly..."

Last para: "Unless people no otherwise..."

When will this menace end, oh, think of the poor children!

[philc]

Caught bang to rites. Ammendment in progress.