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| Calls for investigation into Crossrail 'blacklisting' claims | Calls for investigation into Crossrail 'blacklisting' claims |
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| The government is coming under growing pressure to launch an investigation into claims that workers on the multimillion-pound Crossrail project have been "blacklisted" for raising legitimate health and safety concerns. | The government is coming under growing pressure to launch an investigation into claims that workers on the multimillion-pound Crossrail project have been "blacklisted" for raising legitimate health and safety concerns. |
| The chairman of the Scottish affairs select committee, Ian Davidson, has written to the business secretary, Vince Cable, calling for a "full and thorough" investigation, following what he said was "clear proof" the practice is continuing. | |
| The committee has been taking evidence from the building trade, including unions, as part of an inquiry into blacklisting, and Davidson said it had heard "compelling evidence" that it was used in the £14.5bn project to build a 73-mile railway through central London. | The committee has been taking evidence from the building trade, including unions, as part of an inquiry into blacklisting, and Davidson said it had heard "compelling evidence" that it was used in the £14.5bn project to build a 73-mile railway through central London. |
| The move is part of an escalating row over blacklisting in the construction industry that has led to Unite, the UK's biggest trade union, clash repeatedly with the Crossrail consortium Bam Ferrovial Kier [BFK]. Last month, the Guardian reported Unite's claims of blacklisting on Crossrail and how it had organised hundreds of protests around the country. Crossrail denied the claims, stating that despite repeated requests it had not been provided with any evidence of blacklisting. | |
| In his letter to Cable, Davidson said the business secretary had indicated during a Commons debate earlier this year that he was willing to look at any evidence that indicates blacklisting of construction workers is continuing. | In his letter to Cable, Davidson said the business secretary had indicated during a Commons debate earlier this year that he was willing to look at any evidence that indicates blacklisting of construction workers is continuing. |
| He wrote: "The committee has now received written evidence and held a formal committee hearing on 3 July, with Gail Cartmail of Unite, who has given us what we believe to be clear proof that blacklisting for trade union and health and safety activities has been going on within the contract for the Crossrail project run by BFK. | He wrote: "The committee has now received written evidence and held a formal committee hearing on 3 July, with Gail Cartmail of Unite, who has given us what we believe to be clear proof that blacklisting for trade union and health and safety activities has been going on within the contract for the Crossrail project run by BFK. |
| "The committee is unanimous in believing that this evidence should be passed to yourselves to be pursued further even while other parts of our enquiry are continuing. | "The committee is unanimous in believing that this evidence should be passed to yourselves to be pursued further even while other parts of our enquiry are continuing. |
| "We intend to continue our wider investigations into blacklisting and will be calling further witnesses but believe that the government should now investigate, as promised, the clear and unequivocal evidence that has been received about blacklisting on the Crossrail project." | "We intend to continue our wider investigations into blacklisting and will be calling further witnesses but believe that the government should now investigate, as promised, the clear and unequivocal evidence that has been received about blacklisting on the Crossrail project." |
| The issue of blacklisting in the construction industry first came to light in 2009 when it emerged that more than half of the country's leading construction firms were using a list – with more than 3,000 names on it – run by the Consulting Association. Firms paid an annual £3,000-a-year subscription plus £2.20 for each blacklist check. | The issue of blacklisting in the construction industry first came to light in 2009 when it emerged that more than half of the country's leading construction firms were using a list – with more than 3,000 names on it – run by the Consulting Association. Firms paid an annual £3,000-a-year subscription plus £2.20 for each blacklist check. |
| The information commissioner carried out the original investigation and David Clancy, its investigations manager and a former police officer, said some of information on the blacklisted workers on the Consulting Association list "could only" have come from the police or security services. | The information commissioner carried out the original investigation and David Clancy, its investigations manager and a former police officer, said some of information on the blacklisted workers on the Consulting Association list "could only" have come from the police or security services. |
| Unions say that the list forced thousands of workers and their families into destitution as work dried up. | Unions say that the list forced thousands of workers and their families into destitution as work dried up. |
| The GMB union is taking legal action on behalf of some building workers whose names were on the list, seeking compensation for being denied work. | The GMB union is taking legal action on behalf of some building workers whose names were on the list, seeking compensation for being denied work. |
| Now Unite claims that workers on the Crossrail project were victimised for raising safety issues. Frank Morris, an electrician who worked on the project, is raising an employment tribunal and "blacklisting test case" over claims he was dismissed from his job on Crossrail last September after voicing safety concerns. | Now Unite claims that workers on the Crossrail project were victimised for raising safety issues. Frank Morris, an electrician who worked on the project, is raising an employment tribunal and "blacklisting test case" over claims he was dismissed from his job on Crossrail last September after voicing safety concerns. |
| At the time, BFK referred the claims to Crossrail, which denied the allegations. On Tuesday [today] a spokesman said: "Blacklisting is indefensible, unacceptable and unlawful. Since September 2012, the Unite union has made a series of unsubstantiated allegations against Crossrail Limited. | |
| "Crossrail has made repeated requests to be provided with any evidence of the claims made against it by Unite but nothing has been forthcoming. | "Crossrail has made repeated requests to be provided with any evidence of the claims made against it by Unite but nothing has been forthcoming. |
| "Crossrail has asked for and received assurances from all its principal contractors providing confirmation that none have engaged in any blacklisting activity on the Crossrail project. Crossrail will co-operate fully with any investigation undertaken by the information commissioner." | "Crossrail has asked for and received assurances from all its principal contractors providing confirmation that none have engaged in any blacklisting activity on the Crossrail project. Crossrail will co-operate fully with any investigation undertaken by the information commissioner." |
| A spokesperson for the Department for Business confirmed it had received the letter from the Scottish affairs committee and said it had been referred to the information commissioner. | A spokesperson for the Department for Business confirmed it had received the letter from the Scottish affairs committee and said it had been referred to the information commissioner. |
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