European developments in the anti-blacklisting campaign

In December 2011, two Labour MEPs secured an amendment to a European Parliament resolution to include a reference to blacklisting. It called on the European Commission to propose a directive that protects individuals who raise legitimate health and safety concerns, and that puts an end to the blacklisting of these workers by ensuring that “such a violation of a fundamental labour right is prevented by means of effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions”.

Also in 2011, construction union UCATT brought a test blacklisting case at the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of one of its members. It is based on the failure of successive governments to outlaw blacklisting which breaches a worker’s human rights. The case is ongoing.