Construction union UCATT have described the proposed Compensation Scheme for victims of blacklisting as a blatant attempt to gag blacklisted workers.

UCATT believes that if created the scheme would represent a complete travesty of justice.

UCATT made their comments after seeing the key features and principles of the scheme, which has been proposed by a number of the construction companies involved in the blacklisting of construction workers.

UCATT are especially concerned about the following points of the scheme:

• The scheme will not represent an admission of liability by the companies involved in blacklisting.

• A condition of taking part in the scheme would be for a blacklisted worker to drop all other legal claims.


• Compensation payments would begin at just a £1,000.

• The scheme would be open for just a year.

• A twin track approach is proposed, with a so-called fast track method being offered for workers to receive fixed amounts depending on the information on their blacklisting file. A full review which would take longer would examine the losses suffered by a worker.

• There is no intention to hold hearings into the claims of blacklisted workers and the majority of cases would be resolved on paper.

• Only blacklisted workers where their addresses have been identified would be informed of the scheme.

• All decisions would be made by a High Court Judge with no input from the unions or the workers who were blacklisted.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The scheme is a complete travesty of justice. The companies involved in blacklisting and wrecking the lives of workers for decades are not even prepared to accept liability for their disgusting actions. They are trying to buy the silence of workers for as little as £1,000."

UCATT has not been involved in any discussions regarding how the scheme will be set up or operate.

(CD/IT)