Over 80 blacklisted workers sue Sir Robert McAlpine

Over 80 construction workers have launched a high court claim against Sir Robert McAlpine for its involvement in the blacklisting of workers.

The Observer newspaper reported the workers are making an initial claim for loss of earnings and damages resulting from the practice that is estimated to be valued around £17m.

Sir Robert McAlpine was one of more than 40 firms found to have paid an annual fee to a firm known as the Consulting Association for access to 3,213 workers’ union history, personal relationships and employment history.

The practice was uncovered by the Information Commissioners’ Office, after it raided the Consulting Association’s offices in 2009.

The Observer said the claimants have obtained a court order as part of their action to access the unredacted blacklisting files held by the Information Commissioners’ Office for the first time. Access to the files is seen as key to the potential success of any legal claim.

The law firm Guney Clark and Ryan is representing the workers. Building first reported that they were drawing up a claim on behalf of blacklisted workers in July 2011. The union GMB is also preparing a class action against construction firms on behalf of workers.

A spokesman for Sir Robert McAlpine told the Observer: “As legal proceedings have been issued it would be inappropriate for Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd to make any comment at this stage.”

The contractor has admitted accessing information from the Consulting Association but previously told Building that it “never denied employment to anyone – or dismissed anyone” on the basis of the information received.