GMB welcome action by Welsh government on contracts to blacklisters until they own up, clean up and pay up
The next stage is to see this rolled out by national and local government across the UK and blacklist the blacklisters from the public contracts they crave says GMB.
GMB, the union for construction workers, commented on the announcement by the Welsh Government that it will take action on blacklisting.
Justin Bowden, GMB national officer, said:
"This fantastic announcement by the Welsh Government is a game changer. The message to the companies who blacklisted Welsh citizens is loud and clear: 'if you want public contracts in Wales then own up, clean up and pay up'.
The next stage is to see this rolled out by national and local government across the UK and blacklist the blacklisters from the public contracts they crave.
The net is closing on the blacklisters. GMB has filed claims in the High Court against Sir Robert Mc Alpine and Carillion for 100 members blacklisted by them.
Sir Robert McAlpine has broken cover and shopped its mates; like rats in a sack it has directly implicated 9 other construction companies including Carillion, Skanska, Balfour Beatty, Laing O Rourke and Kier, dragging them into the litigation, saying they were all blacklisting too.
Left to their own devices these employers spied and they lied. What the companies say and what the companies do are two different things.
For any worker to be represented by a trade union in their workplace is a civil right that must be protected to the highest level, with new legislation backed by imprisonment and unlimited fines for anyone who interferes with it. For the Labour Party, these should be bread and butter manifesto commitments right now."
