Construction workers who were blacklisted by major industry companies have begun to receive compensation, UCATT has revealed.

A total of 71 union members have received full and final settlements worth £5.6 million from companies involved in blacklisting.

The reimbursements are due to breaches of confidence/misuse of private information, breach of the Data Protection Act 1988, defamation and loss of earnings.

UCATT said it was still negotiating a number of other cases which, unless settlements are agreed, will go to trial in May.

Brian Rye, Acting General Secretary of UCATT, said: "UCATT has been fighting the blacklisting case since the day it was revealed. This initial tranche of compensation is the first significant milestone in the battle to win justice for blacklisted workers.

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"I hope that this compensation will provide some recompense for these members who have suffered appalling treatment at the hands of the blacklisters."

Lawyers are now attempting to secure a formal apology made in the High Court to the victims of blacklisting, as well as ensuring all documentation is preserved so that if a pubic inquiry is held, the information can be properly examined.

Legal teams also want an agreement that concerned companies will provide training and future support to any of the victims who require it in order to assist them re-joining the industry.

In addition, UCATT's lawyers are trying to secure a guarantee that if any further documents are discovered relating to the blacklisting of workers or their personal information, the individual is given access to them and they are then destroyed by the offending companies, in order to prevent future blacklisting.

(LM/MH)