PRESS RELEASE: A group of blacklisted workers have launched a High Court claim against Sir Robert McAlpine which could potentially be worth £600million. Guney Clark & Ryan
solicitors served a claim on behalf of 86 claimants for "Tort of
unlawful conspiracy" at the High Court last week. The claimants are part
of the Blacklist Support Group, a network campaigning
on behalf of construction workers illegally blacklisted because of their
trade union activities by major building contractors as part of the Consulting Association scandal first exposed in 2009.
Press Release:
BLACKLISTED WORKERS LAUNCH £600M HIGH COURT CLAIM
A group of blacklisted workers have launched a High Court claim against Sir Robert McAlpine which could potentially be worth £600million. Guney Clark & Ryan
solicitors served a claim on behalf of 86 claimants for "Tort of
unlawful conspiracy" at the High Court last week. The claimants are part
of the Blacklist Support Group, a network campaigning
on behalf of construction workers illegally blacklisted because of their
trade union activities by major building contractors as part of the Consulting Association scandal first exposed in 2009.
solicitors served a claim on behalf of 86 claimants for "Tort of
unlawful conspiracy" at the High Court last week. The claimants are part
of the Blacklist Support Group, a network campaigning
on behalf of construction workers illegally blacklisted because of their
trade union activities by major building contractors as part of the Consulting Association scandal first exposed in 2009.
The claim targets Sir Robert McAlpine as the
company with the worst record of blacklisting, the last invoice issued
to them by the Consulting Association was in excess of £28,000 for the
use of the blacklisting service. However, the conspiracy charge means McAlpine would also be responsible for the actions of the other 40+ contractors such as Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Skanska who systematically blacklisted workers simply for being members of a trade union.
company with the worst record of blacklisting, the last invoice issued
to them by the Consulting Association was in excess of £28,000 for the
use of the blacklisting service. However, the conspiracy charge means McAlpine would also be responsible for the actions of the other 40+ contractors such as Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Skanska who systematically blacklisted workers simply for being members of a trade union.
Many of the claimants were repeatedly dismissed from
major construction projects and in some cases suffered years of
unemployment because of their union activities or for raising concerns
about safety on building sites. It is believed that the larger claims
are in the region of £300,000 for loss of earnings and hurt to feelings.
The minimum award under the new blacklisting regulation introduced in
2010 is £5,000 (but the regulations do not retrospectively cover the Consulting Association
victims). The average claim has been estimated at £20,000 per claimant
which values the current cases in excess of £17million. As this is the
first wave of claimants, out of a possible 3200 blacklisted workers, the
total pay-outs the building firms could face exceeds £600million.
major construction projects and in some cases suffered years of
unemployment because of their union activities or for raising concerns
about safety on building sites. It is believed that the larger claims
are in the region of £300,000 for loss of earnings and hurt to feelings.
The minimum award under the new blacklisting regulation introduced in
2010 is £5,000 (but the regulations do not retrospectively cover the Consulting Association
victims). The average claim has been estimated at £20,000 per claimant
which values the current cases in excess of £17million. As this is the
first wave of claimants, out of a possible 3200 blacklisted workers, the
total pay-outs the building firms could face exceeds £600million.
The blacklisted workers are being represented in the High Court by Sir Hugh Tomlinson QC: celebrity barrister to the stars in the News of the World phone hacking cases.
Mick Abbott, 74 year old ex-scaffolder said:
"This nearly ruined my marriage and it meant that my children were
on free meals at school. My file goes back to 1964 and the last entry
says that I rekindled the campaign for justice for the Shrewsbury
picketers in 2006. They have been watching me all these years and
passing this information around, blighting my life over four decades."
on free meals at school. My file goes back to 1964 and the last entry
says that I rekindled the campaign for justice for the Shrewsbury
picketers in 2006. They have been watching me all these years and
passing this information around, blighting my life over four decades."
Steve Kelly, electrician & spokesperson for the Blacklist Support Group said:
"I was blacklisted because I was a union member and because I raised issues about safety.
In
2007, McAlpine sacked me from the Colchester Barracks project after 2
days for refusing to work on a moving platform without proper training
(exactly as we had been instructed in the site induction) – the
dismissal is recorded on my blacklist fie.
2007, McAlpine sacked me from the Colchester Barracks project after 2
days for refusing to work on a moving platform without proper training
(exactly as we had been instructed in the site induction) – the
dismissal is recorded on my blacklist fie.
Over the year I suffered severe financial strain, my
wages were cut in half which caused immense stress paying bills and
putting food on table. I was out of work for a year apart from few
weeks here and there in 2001. Being sacked from Colchester Barracks
after only 2 days piled up the stress and caused a nervous break down
for me eventually.
wages were cut in half which caused immense stress paying bills and
putting food on table. I was out of work for a year apart from few
weeks here and there in 2001. Being sacked from Colchester Barracks
after only 2 days piled up the stress and caused a nervous break down
for me eventually.
The blacklisting firms should be made to pay
compensation for years lost and years in future. They should be made to
employ blacklisted workers or not be awarded any public government
backed contracts. An apology in national press and to individuals whose
lives they ruined would be a start."
compensation for years lost and years in future. They should be made to
employ blacklisted workers or not be awarded any public government
backed contracts. An apology in national press and to individuals whose
lives they ruined would be a start."
for background info:
Blacklist Support Group: blacklistsg@gmail.com
Blacklisting reports in The Observer last Sunday:
Article by Daniel Boffey – Political Editor:
Colunm by Nick Cohen:
