UNITE general secretary Sharon Graham has promised to publish a report into allegations of collusion in construction worker blacklisting.

The pledge follows a campaign from the Blacklist Support Group (BSG) which called for urgent action after the union promised last July to publish the document.

Ms Graham pledged it would be released ahead of the Unite leadership election, which closes tomorrow, with the result due to be announced on August 14.

She told Construction News: “I instigated the independent blacklisting inquiry. A promise made and a promise kept. This inquiry is totally independent and once complete will be published.”

She added: “Anyone from Unite, past or present, who is shown to be involved in this despicable, abhorrent practice will have no place to hide.”

Posting on social media, Simon Dubbins, who is challenging Ms Graham for the union’s leadership, said it was “time to publish the blacklisting report,” adding that “regular detailed updates” should be shared with Unite’s construction leaders until the report is ready.

He said: “Exposing and finally dealing with the stain of blacklisting and collusion is essential for reuniting and supporting members in this vital sector.”

Blacklisted workers with the BSG said 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.”

Details suggesting that union 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.

Ms Graham set up a KC-led inquiry in 2022 into the matter following a more than decade-long campaign by blacklisted workers, targeted by some of Britain’s largest construction firms.

It was set up to examine whether past or present Unite officials had colluded in the blacklisting.

Despite claims that the probe would be concluded soon, the BSG said recently revealed information has further slowed the inquiry.