Employers move on blacklisting demands

Employers’ representatives on the Construction Industry Joint Council, the industrial agreement, which covers 500,000 construction workers, have bowed to union requests to insert a new clause.

The new anti-blacklisting clause in the CIJC Working Rule Agreement states: “The CIJC does not condone any form of blacklisting of any worker.”

Although the clause does not explicitly forbid the use of employment reference agencies, like the now defunct Consulting Association, union leaders regard it as a significant step.

Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy, who proposed the new clause, said: “This is a major step forward, blacklisting is a vile and disgusting practice. There must be no hiding place for blacklisters in construction or any other industry.”

Mr Murphy added: “The majority of the major companies responsible for blacklisting follow the CIJC agreement. By inserting this clause we are a further step forward in eradicating blacklisting from our industry for once and for all.”

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