Two face data probe
AT LEAST two Tees Valley companies are alleged to have broken data protection laws by paying for information on their employees.
Whessoe Oil & Gas and Cleveland Bridge in Darlington are among more than 40 firms facing legal action following an official investigation amid fears that thousands of construction workers have been treated unfairly.
Several divisions of engineering and construction giant Amec, which employs 700 at sites in Darlington and Wynyard, are also on the list.
The information commissioner claims that the companies covertly bought details of trade union activities and their conduct at work “over many years” from a private investigator.
The information was then allegedly used to “blacklist” workers and stop them from getting work.
Notes about individual workers included descriptions such as “ex-shop steward, definite problems”, “Irish ex-Army, bad egg”, while others related to workers who had raised concerns over health and safety issues on sites, such as asbestos removal.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he was “sorry” that the practices had taken place but welcomed the action taken by the information commissioner.
He said: “He will need to look into this further to see whether these practices are more widespread and take the appropriate action, as he’s already done in this case.”
Unions expressed alarm and anger over the allegations.
Alan Ritchie, general secretary of the building workers’ union Ucatt, said: “It is outrageous that construction workers have been barred from jobs simply for being trade unionists.”
The revelation of widespread blacklisting has huge implications for construction safety, said the union, adding that Ucatt members and safety representatives have been victimised and dismissed after complaining and whistle-blowing about dangerous sites.
Construction workers have repeatedly claimed that they have been stopped from getting work after being blacklisted for suspected union activities - but the industry has always denied the claims.
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