In a groundbreaking case, Thompsons Solicitors is supporting a Unite the Union member who claims to have been blacklisted from working on London’s flagship Crossrail project.

Daniel Collins turned to his union and Thompsons Solicitors after learning that Crossrail, as well as several agencies and contractors working on the project, had conspired to deny him work.

He argues this is due to him raising a number of serious safety issues to his employer soon after starting a role on the Bond Street Crossrail station project. Soon after, he was asked to finish working on the basis that there had been a “reduction in work”, despite the fact he was previously told there was three years’ worth of work available.

Any attempts to gain new employment on the project were rejected, despite being qualified for the role, leading to Mr Collins launching subject access requests that he alleges show evidence that he has been blacklisted by Crossrail, Costain, Skanska, NG Bailey, T Clarke and the employment agencies OnSite and Beaver Management Services Ltd. Thompsons Solicitors has previously supported Unite in claims for 256 blacklisted construction workers, helping secure more than £10 million in total for the affected members.

Rachel Halliday, of Thompsons Solicitors, said: “We have sent letters before claim to Crossrail, and six contractors working on the Crossrail project, and we await their responses.

“We know from the construction blacklisting cases we ran for Unite that blacklisting has blighted the lives of too many trade union activists.

“Working with the union we are seeking compensation for those affected but also effective action by the companies to end blacklisting as a practice.”

Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: “Unite is launching this landmark contemporary blacklisting case on behalf of our member who we say was blacklisted out of the industry.

“Unite has always believed that blacklisting has continued in construction but the challenge has been to unearth this dirty and deceitful practice.

“It is truly sickening that a worker who has raised legitimate safety concerns in order to protect their fellow workers, has been forced out of the industry, due to their public spirited actions.

“Sadly Unite believes that this is not an isolated case and that other workers have also suffered from blacklisting. Those responsible must be exposed.”