We are therefore pleased that the new Employment Relations Act 1999 will make it unlawful for trade union members to be denied employment through ‘blacklists’, provided the government introduces the necessary regulations.

The move by the government comes on the back of evidence that construction workers are being unlawfully vetted due to trade union membership.

Employment Relations Minister, Lord Young said:

"The Government is determined to stamp out this despicable practice and our legislative proposals are a proportionate and robust response."

I am hopeful, for the sake of all our Trade Union clients, that the new regulations will be in place early in 2010.