DUNDEE WEST MP Jim McGovern yesterday hit out at big construction companies which are accused of blacklisting politically active job applicants and used the example of a famous local figure to illustrate his point.
He was taking part in a House of Commons debate following an investigation by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee which took evidence from blacklisted workers and those responsible for administering the blacklists.
The committee also heard from construction companies alleged to have used the services of organisations alleged to have compiled blacklists.
Mr McGovern highlighted the case of the late Dundee hillwalker, writer and poet Syd Scroggie, who lost his sight and his legs while serving in the armed forces.
He found himself on a blacklist because he wrote to the press congratulating Dundee City Council for awarding the freedom of the city to Nelson Mandela.
The committee most recently questioned Cullum McAlpine, director of Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, one of the construction companies alleged to have used blacklists.
The investigation has also highlighted that blacklists may have been used on major public sector projects such as the London Olympic Village, Portcullis House, which contains offices for MPs in Westminster.
Mr McGovern said: “This is a scandal of huge proportions. Through our investigation and the work being done by the Labour front bench it is clear that hundreds of workers had their livelihoods threatened because they took an active part in our democracy.”
Two Dundee electricians, Francie Graham and Steuart Merchant, claim they were both blacklisted by a consulting agency which had the names of 3,000 workers and was run for 40 major construction companies.
They believe prosecutions are the only way to redress the injustices.