Construction 'Blacklist' Settlement Reached

Two unions have confirmed compensation has been agreed for construction workers who said they were blacklisted in the industry.

While the number of people and the sums involved in the settlement were not disclosed, it is understood that tens of millions of pounds are being claimed from the sector in total - with one element of the case still unresolved.

The legal action followed the discovery, in 2009, of a blacklist of over 3,000 names held by the Consulting Association - later shut down by regulators.

Workers claimed they were denied work, often for raising legitimate concerns about health and safety on building sites but also for things such as their political affiliation.

The settlement announced today concerned legal proceedings brought by the GMB and Ucatt unions and the law firm Guney, Clark and Ryan (GCR).

A case involving the Unite union is set to go to trial next month.

The construction companies - Balfour Beatty (Other OTC: BAFBF - news) , Carillion (Other OTC: CIOIF - news) , Costain, Kier, Laing O'Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska UK and VINCI (Paris: FR0000125486 - news) - said they "have offered financial settlements which all claimants represented by Ucatt, GMB and GCR have now accepted as fair and reasonable.

"The parties have also agreed a joint statement to be read in court as part of this settlement.

"These construction companies now wish to draw a line under this matter and continue to work together with the trade unions at national, regional and site level to ensure that the modern UK construction industry provides the highest standards of employment and HR practice for its workforce".

The two unions and law firm said: "The construction companies have offered financial settlements which all claimants represented by Ucatt, GMB and GCR have now accepted as fair and reasonable."

They added: "The construction companies have also agreed to pay the claimants' legal costs (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) ."