Blacklisted workers run up against a brick wall

Bricklayers took drastic action when they found themselves in a dispute on a site. Now they find themselves frozen out by the industry, writes Michael Clifford.

Alex was on the site for all of four hours when he was told to leave. He wasn’t told why, but he didn’t have to ask.

That was eight weeks ago. The site was in Dublin. He had got the job through an agency, and it took just four hours after his appearance that morning for word to filter through as to his identity.