The decision to bar companies involved in blacklisting in bidding for any Wiltshire Council contracts has been welcomed by a trade union.

At Tuesday’s full council meeting the council approved Salisbury Labour councillor Ricky Rogers’ bid to ‘blacklist the blacklisters’, by agreeing not to work with companies found guilty of the practice.

Any construction or engineering companies now bidding for council contracts will be asked to provide evidence they have not been involved with The Consulting Association, a controversial company which maintained a list of ‘troublemaking’ or ‘militant’ workers.

Carole Vallelly, GMB regional organiser for Wiltshire, said: “We are delighted Wiltshire Council has passed this motion.

“For too long these companies have been allowed to ruin people’s lives with their illegal blacklisting practices.”