黑洞社区

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

the workers are making an initial claim for loss of earnings and damages resulting from the practice that is estimated to be valued around 拢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鈥� union history, personal relationships and employment history.

The practice was uncovered by the Information Commissioners鈥� Office, after it raided the Consulting Association鈥檚 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鈥� 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. that they were drawing up a claim on behalf of blacklisted workers in July 2011. against construction firms on behalf of workers.

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

The contractor has admitted accessing information from the Consulting Association but that it 鈥渘ever denied employment to anyone 鈥� or dismissed anyone鈥� on the basis of the information received.