Global Campaign to Eradicate Construction Blacklisting Agreed

Construction unions from around the world have overwhelmingly endorsed proposals to stamp out blacklisting wherever it occurs. The decision was taken by the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), the worldwide confederation of construction unions, at their conference in Lille, France.

Union representatives overwhelmingly supported an emergency motion proposed by UCATT the British construction union. UCATT has led the campaign to outlaw blacklisting in the United Kingdom, following the discovery earlier this year, that over 40 major construction companies were involved in the blacklisting of construction workers.

UCATT’s motion mandates the leadership of the BWI to “monitor any developments on blacklisting discovered in BWI affiliate countries” and, “assist unions in taking action where there are suspicions of a blacklist or where blacklisting practices have been confirmed.”

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “I am delighted that the BWI are committed to stamping out blacklisting wherever it exists. Blacklisting is a disgraceful, deceitful practice which ruins the lives of workers.”

Some of the companies involved in blacklisting in the United Kingdom, were multi-nationals. It has emerged that many of these companies practice exemplary industrial relations policies in some countries, while undertaking entirely unethical practices in others. UCATT has been working with other international construction unions, to highlight abuses and pressurise companies at an international level to amend their policies.

Anita Normark, General Secretary of the BWI, said: “Blacklisting is an obscene anti union practice used by unscrupulous companies all over the world to deprive workers of their rights and to rob trade unionists of their livelihood. We condemn blacklisting and believe that it should be punishable by law.”

Alan Ritchie, added: “Having been at the forefront of the blacklisting scandal in the UK, UCATT are committed to assisting our sister unions in overcoming similar problems in their own countries.”