The latest High Court hearing in a Group Litigation Order bringing together more than 600 compensation claims by workers blacklisted by major construction companies took place on 14 May (HSB 439 p.8). Michael Newman, solicitor for Leigh Day, which is bringing cases pn behalf of more than 120 members of the GMB union, told HSB that the hearing decided on the 20 lead/test cases and scheduled a planned trial date for May 2016. Blacklisting came to light in 2009 when a raid by the Information Commissioner's Office on the premises of the Consulting Association uncovered a database of more than 3,200 construction workers, which 44 construction companies had used to vet individuals for employment (HSB 378 p.1). The files contained data on workers' personal relationships, union activities, safety campaigning and employment history. A further High Court hearing was due on 14 and 15 July to examine and agree the scope of the construction companies' disclosure obligations.
展开▼
