UNION members are being urged not to become tied to a compensation scheme which Unite says has could leave them shortchanged.

Unite has set-up an advice line 0800 587 7539 as around 1,200 victims and families receive letters from the Information Commissioner’s Office telling them they were blacklisted through a conspiracy involving 44 construction companies.

The union is advising people not to sign up to The Workers Compensation Scheme.

Gail Cartmail said: “We urge the victims of blacklisting and their families to use our hotline or contact their union rather than fall for employer attempts to buy them off. Lives were ruined and families were torn apart.

“Unite is mounting a major legal operation to support blacklisted workers. Our union has already supported the majority of blacklisting cases in the courts and at employment tribunals. The union has already succeeded on behalf of many members. We are taking cases on a wide range of legal points, including defamation, breaches of the Data Protection Act and conspiracy. We are exploring every legal avenue to find justice for blacklisted workers.”

Unite has issued the first five of 50 High Court proceedings against blacklisters. The construction companies involved include Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, Balfour Beatty, Crown House Technologies, Skanska, Kier and Laing O’Rourke.