Sometimes leaks keep leaking….
The Information Commissioner’s Office is investigating the leak of confidential files naming blacklisted construction workers, writes Andrew Hankinson.
The files, which contain details of the trade union activity of 3,213 construction workers, were taken out of circulation in March 2009 when the ICO seized them from the Consulting Association.
The CA had been selling them to construction firms concerned about employing union activists. The CA was later closed down and in July last year its owner, Ian Kerr, was fined £5,000 for data protection breaches. [previous coverage on PogoWasRight.org here and here — Dissent]
One worker said his file was posted anonymously to his home address and that he was aware of at least eight files in circulation.
“If these bastards send it round again they can stop me working again,” he said. “I never broke any law or turned up late or drunk. All I did was complain about health and safety.”
The ICO said it was aware of “two unredacted blacklisting documents” in circulation and was monitoring events closely.
Read more on Building.co.uk.
Somebody or some organization really needs to be hit with a mammoth fine for this.