Construction union UCATT will be holding a demonstration in support of victims of blacklisting outside Manchester Employment Tribunal on Tuesday 24 November.

The tribunal will be hearing the initial cases of blacklisted construction workers.

In March 2009 it was revealed by the Information Commissioner that a company, the Consulting Association, run by Ian Kerr, was operating a secret blacklist containing the names and details of over 3,000 construction workers. Over 40 major construction companies were using its services to blacklist workers.

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The Manchester Employment Tribunal on Tuesday 24 November will hear the cases of the first group of workers who have tabled cases against the construction companies who blacklisted them. The Employment Tribunal Service has grouped together many of the blacklisting tribunal cases and has directed the Manchester Employment Tribunal to initially hear the cases.

The decision to group the cases at the Manchester Tribunal is symbolic, as a large number of UCATT members in the North West were blacklisted.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "Hundreds of construction workers had their lives ruined by the blacklisters. Many of them were forced out of the construction industry. This is the first opportunity workers have had to win justice from the construction companies who blacklisted them."

Much of the information contained on the blacklist related to a worker's union membership. In particular workers who had taken on the role of a health and safety representative or had been a whistleblower on dangerous sites were targeted.

(CD/KMcA)