CONSTRUCTION workers who claim they are victims of an illegal “blacklist” took their protest to a building site at the heart of Bury’s £350 million Rock Triangle development.

Around 20 electricians, supporters and trade unionists staged a picket demonstration at Laing O’Rourke, the main contractor involved in the regeneration project.

The “Campaign Against the Blacklist” event, which has been held at other sites in the UK, follows an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) which in March uncovered a database containing details on 3,213 building workers.

According to the ICO, it was used by more than 40 construction companies, including Laing O’Rourke, to vet individuals for employment.

However, the company has stressed to the Bury Times it does not discriminate against individuals.

In July, Ian Kerr appeared at Knutsford Crown Court and was fined £5,000 for breaching the Data Protection Act.

The ICO found that Kerr, on behalf of The Consulting Association (TCA), held details on construction workers and traded their personal details for profit.

One of those who joined the Bury picket was union leader Mr Brian Bamford, secretary of the Bury Unite branch.

He said: “In May, I wrote to Bury Council chief executive, Mark Sanders, seeking reassurance that he would use his influence to ensure that there would be no blacklisting on the Bury building sites. As yet, there has been no reply from Mr Sanders despite a further appeal in July.

“The Government is now considering a change in the law to make blacklisting of trade unionists specifically illegal.”

A spokesman for Laing O’Rourke said: “We do not discriminate against any individuals for any reason in their employment with the group, and that is the clear policy across all our business units.”

A Bury Council spokesman commented: “We understand that Unite are complaining about blacklisting by some constructors involved in the building industry.

“We can confirm that the council does not support such a practice and, to our knowledge, we do not employ contractors who blacklist individuals. Neither do we support such a measure.”