Metropolitan Police admits role in blacklisting construction workers

Scotland Yard has admitted Special Branch officers passed information to
a controversial network that blacklisted construction workers.

It follows a six-year battle to find out if the Metropolitan Police supplied
the intelligence on trade unionists.

The force says its investigation had "proven" the allegation, which will be
investigated by a public inquiry.

Workers who say they were unfairly barred from jobs have already received
millions of pounds in compensation.

In 2016, the union Unite reached a settlement with construction firms that
resulted in 256 workers sharing more than £10m in compensation.

At the heart of the claims, which were made by hundreds of workers, was
evidence that firms accessed a "blacklist" that logged workers' trade union activities.

The list was used by dozens of construction firms to vet those applying for
work on building sites.

When the files were found to contain details of individual's political activities,
the workers demanded that Scotland Yard disclose whether undercover police
had colluded in supplying intelligence.

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