THE Independent Blacklisting Collusion Inquiry has confirmed that delays to publication are due to the need to investigate an ongoing line of enquiry.

Details suggesting that Unite representatives may have “liaised” with contractors to blacklist workers from construction jobs were revealed by Construction News in 2012 after a major blacklisting ring was uncovered three years prior.

At its centre was the Consulting Association, an organisation which maintained a database of construction workers who were active trade union members or had previously raised health and safety concerns at work.

A raid by the Information Commissioner’s Office revealed 3,213 workers were on the association’s blacklist.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham set up a KC-led inquiry into the matter in 2022.

Responding to campaigners asking why its report, originally scheduled to be published last July, had not been published the Inquiry’s legal team stated that “The Inquiry has taken evidence from more than 100 witnesses and reviewed many thousands of pages of material. We are conscious that the delay in the publication of the report is, understandably, frustrating, but a significant line of inquiry has recently emerged that requires careful examination. Given the seriousness of the matters under consideration, we are duty bound to investigate the allegations even though that has led to regrettable, but unavoidable, delay.”

It confirmed that its independence has been respected by all parties, including Unite, the Blacklist Support Group (BSG) and the Inquiry’s oversight committee, and that it has not shared its report with any of them.

“There is no intention to suppress the report; it will be published once finalised. However, this requires the conclusion on the current line of inquiry,” it added.

Blacklisted workers with the BSG had expressed frustration at the delay, adding that they “were not calling for a witch-hunt. Where there is no evidence of wrongdoing, officials should be exonerated and be able to hold their heads high.

“We should all strive for natural justice, but blacklisted workers have been waiting too long for justice.”

A Morning Star report published on Monday August 10 stated that Ms Graham had pledged to release the report ahead of the end of the Unite leadership election. This was inaccurate. The union does not control the timetable for publication, and the Morning Star apologises for any confusion our report may have caused.