Blacklist in the construction industry....

[Sue]

Shocking, have to give credit to Panorama for highlighting it



30 years later....

Yep. Thought the blacklisted workers were very restrained, especially about union reps/members having passed on information. Also had no idea Gail Cartmail was an Assistant General Secretary of Unite. (My experience of her as a fulltimer back in the day was not what you'd call positive.)

 

[brogdale]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/18/police-activists-blacklisting-agency-alleged

Evidence that firms up the collusion between the OB and the blacklist scum.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

It's rather telling that the police spies and blacklisting organisations seem to have seen principled opposition to fascism as a matter for both the state and potential employers to be worried about.

Should we infer that they'd prefer enthusiastic support for fascism instead?

 

[dennisr]

There was quite a crossover of the two - building workers and anti-fascists

 

[DaveCinzano]

There was quite a crossover of the two - building workers and anti-fascists

Hence, no doubt, the deployment of Mark Jenner AKA 'Mark Cassidy' into Hackney under cover of being a chippie, to fish in AFA's (and others') waters.

http://hackneyhistory.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/hackney-spy-cop-mark-cassidyjenner/

 

[butchersapron]

Now Frank Morris gets a result as well. This is today . Superb (sorry for the long c&p - its from a facebook post - haven't seen easier links to make 'online proper' like as yet):
<snip>

Now he gets another one:

Blacklist beaten – Frank Morris reinstated on Crossrail

Blacklisted UNITE union shop steward Frank Morris is returning to work on the Crossrail project on 9th September. This is a massive victory, not just for UNITE but the whole of the trade union movement.

Frank Morris came to symbolise the struggle the unions are waging against the illegal blacklist of their members by major construction firms after he was dismissed last September. His reinstatement sends a message out: unions
are back and we are ready to fight our corner if we have to.

The dismissal of Frank Morris took place soon after he took on the role of union steward and raised safety concerns about tunnelling operations on the largest publicly funded construction project in Western Europe.

The Crossrail dispute was a central part of the a BBC One Panorama TV documentary: Blacklist Britain.

There is a gagging order on the agreement to get Frank Morris his job back and UNITE the Union and Frank are both unable to discuss the detail of the agreement but the following Joint Statement has been issued by UNITE and BFK

 

[DaveCinzano]

...And the day after his reinstatement...

(there's the anti-Bedroom Tax thing at 5pm as well)

 

[elbows]

Steps are to be taken to eradicate the illegal blacklisting of workers in Wales who are trade unionists or who raise health and safety concerns.

The Welsh government is to tell public sector bodies how to exclude companies that blacklist when recruiting staff.

The Welsh government said it wants to send a clear message that blacklisting by firms bidding for contracts funded by taxpayers is inappropriate and illegal.

Finance Minster Jane Hutt said: "The use of blacklists is wholly unacceptable and I fully sympathise with the individuals and their families who have suffered a terrible injustice as a consequence of contractors engaging in this practice.

"Procurement is an important part of the overall policy toolkit of the Welsh government.

"Under no circumstances is it acceptable for any business in receipt of public procurement expenditure to use blacklists."

The public sector in Wales spends £4.2bn each year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24041948

 

[ddraig]

bit more here
http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2013/blacklisting/?skip=1&lang=en
http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/finance1/2013/130911blacklisting/?lang=en

 

[butchersapron]

Somehow, the bristol vote passed as well. The lib-dems abstained.

 

[butchersapron]

Wolves council just voted the same motion.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Juicy stuff from the Blacklist Support Group today, including:

Brand new documentary evidence has now come to light that proves beyond doubt that senior officers from the National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit (NETCU) attended secret Consulting Association meetings. NETCU was set up in 2005 after lobbying by big corporations.

Last week the Information Commissioners Office responded to a Freedom of Information request which requested "*a copy of any
minutes/notes/powerpoint presentations in relation to and the list of attendees of the meeting between the NETCU and the Consulting Association in November 2008 held by the ICO."*

In an email response dated 3rd September 2013, the ICO have now stated: *"We can confirm that we do hold information in the scope of your request. Within the seized information we do hold notes of a NETCU meeting which are dated November 2008. It is unclear whether this is a formal minutes or just notes taken by an attendee at the time or afterwards."*

This is documentary evidence that senior police officers attended secret meetings of the Consulting Association blacklist. The ICO have refused to hand over this documentary evidence claiming it would be a breach of the Data Protection Act. The IPCC are investigating police involvement with an illegal blacklisting conspiracy - the ICO have the documents that prove this and they are refusing to hand it over to the lawyers of the blacklisted workers. A similar FOI request to the police has also resulted in no documents being disclosed. This smacks of a cover up.

To make matters worse, when the ICO gave evidence to MPs as part of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee investigation into blacklisting they were asked specifically about possible police involvement in the Consulting Association blacklist and completely failed to mention that they had documents in their possession that proved that the police attended CA meetings.

Blacklisting campaigners believe that the police officer who gave the power point presentation at the CA meeting in November 2008 was previous head of NETCU, Superintendent Steve Pearl, currently director of a firm which provides employment vetting http://www.agenda-security.co.uk/

Plus:

Blacklist Support Group statement on police involvement

Blacklisting is no longer an industrial relations issue; it is a conspiracy between multinational construction firms, the police and the security services. The parallels with phone hacking are obvious. There is, however, a significant difference from phone hacking, where the police involvement was supposedly due to individual corruption.

The police collusion in blacklisting is not one or two rogue officers, but standard operating procedure by the state to target campaigners under the guise of "domestic extremism", routinely sharing information with big business.

We are not terrorists: we are trade unionists and campaigners participating in perfectly legal activities
in a democratic society.

The Blacklist Support Group has no faith in the police investigating the police under the auspices of Operation Herne. All of our requests for information so far have been met by denial and obstruction. This smacks of a cover up. Only a full public inquiry with a wide enough remit to unravel all the institutions responsible for blacklisting is going to get to the truth of this ongoing human rights scandal.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/10151699525177428/

 

[butchersapron]

 

[brogdale]

A small step along the road to "Own up, clean up and pay up", but even now, after proposing some element of "Pay up", the scum are refusing to accept liability...

Major construction companies will offer compensation to workers whose names were on the secret industry blacklist run by an organisation called The Consulting Association.

It was discovered that more than 3,200 names, mainly of building workers, were kept on the list. Many involved claimed they were denied work, often for raising concerns about health and safety on building sites, or for political activity.

The eight firms announced that they are working together to develop a scheme to compensate construction workers whose names were on The Consulting Association (TCA) database.
http://www.channel4.com/news/construction-blacklist-fund-compensation-secret-list

 

[butchersapron]

Have you been blacklisted? Your union needs you

Anti-blacklisting campaigners are appealing for local organisations across the UK to help identify hundreds of victims of blacklisting, so that they can make formal appeals for compensation.

It follows the establishment of an industry-funded scheme announced yesterday (10 October) designed to compensate more than 3,200 victims of anti union discrimination and surveillance in the construction industry during the 1990s and 2000s.
...

It is thought that fewer than 1,000 of the people named in the agency’s files are aware that they were being blacklisted.
The GMB is asking local organizations including local media across the UK to assist in identifying and locating all 3,214 people on the list, which is also known to include environmental activists, journalists and at least one university lecturer.

...

The eight companies who have established the Construction Workers Compensation Scheme are Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska UK and VINCI PLC.

...

Those who wish to help should call Phil Read at GMB on 07840 897997 or email him: blacklisted@gmb.org.uk.

 

[barney_pig]

Last month I went for an interview for a job working with network rail, on the crossrail project. The interview went really well, my experience and skills fitted the role perfectly, and I got on famously with the two managers who were conducting the interview, and would have been my seniors if I gained the role.
I had high hopes of getting the post, and was told that they would inform me either way within the week.
A fortnight later I got a terse note telling me I was not required.
I was disappointed, but I had already been offered another job ( less well paid) in the nhs and put it down to experience.
Now I am wondering again.

 

[cesare]

Last month I went for an interview for a job working with network rail, on the crossrail project. The interview went really well, my experience and skills fitted the role perfectly, and I got on famously with the two managers who were conducting the interview, and would have been my seniors if I gained the role.
I had high hopes of getting the post, and was told that they would inform me either way within the week.
A fortnight later I got a terse note telling me I was not required.
I was disappointed, but I had already been offered another job ( less well paid) in the nhs and put it down to experience.
Now I am wondering again.

It might be worth a data subject access request - even if only as a shot across the bows.

Edit: sent to the head of HR. The HR people are *very* nervous about blacklisting at the moment.

 

[butchersapron]

Police colluded in secret plan to blacklist 3,200 building workers (won't take my properly)

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/12/police-blacklist-construction-workers-watchdog

Police officers across the country supplied information on workers to a blacklist operation run by Britain's biggest construction companies, the police watchdog has told lawyers representing victims.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has informed those affected that a Scotland Yard inquiry into police collusion has identified that it is "likely that all special branches were involved in providing information" that kept certain individuals out of work

Sean Curran, a solicitor representing 69 victims in the high court, said he cautiously welcomed the announcement but raised concerns over the involvement of the unions, which are also suspected of providing information to the blacklist operation in some cases. He said: "We note that there has been reference to the consultation of Ucatt and Unite in the formulation of the proposed compensation scheme. We express serious concern about the involvement of those organisations.

"We have seen evidence that implicates Amicus (which evolved into Unite) and Ucatt officials in the supply of negative commentary about the suitability of their members for employment. That commentary frequently made its way onto the Consulting Association database and was no doubt one of the factors that led to denials of employment.

"It is also worthy of note that those unions refused to support their members in bringing a High Court claim so that they could seek redress for the hardship that they suffered. Many of those that we represent are firm that they object to Unite or Ucatt playing any part in negotiations with the relevant companies for these reasons

 

[brogdale]

Police colluded in secret plan to blacklist 3,200 building workers (won't take my properly)

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/12/police-blacklist-construction-workers-watchdog

....this is no longer about industrial relations but is a major human rights scandal involving a conspiracy between the police and the industry.

So which Police 'Service' will be asked to conduct an inquiry into all Special Branches?

 

[treelover]

Its also in the Observer(sorry BA) incredible, very British corruption.

 

[Divisive Cotton]

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has informed those affected that a Scotland Yard inquiry into police collusion has identified that it is "likely that all special branches were involved in providing information" that kept certain individuals out of work.

jesus, nobody shouldn't be surprised but this points to an institutional policy rather than occasional meetings by rogue / sympathetic officers

 

[DaveCinzano]

Illegal blacklisting is definitely illegal:

The European Parliament’s justice and civil liberties committee voted last night [21 October 2013] on reforms to EU data protection law. Labour managed to secure support for an amendment that states personal data cannot be used to put workers on a blacklist.

A new clause inserted into the EU’s draft data protection regulation makes clear discrimination based on trade union membership or activities is against the law.

http://www.eureporter.co/frontpage/2013/10/22/meps-ensure-blacklisting-is-illegal/

 

[butchersapron]

Piss take’ compensation proposals cause walk out

The first talks to take place between blacklisted workers and representatives of the blacklist compensation scheme have ended in acrimony as the delegation from the Blacklist Support Group walked out of the meeting in disgust at what they described as “piss take” proposals.

The Blacklist Support Group delegation, made up exclusively of blacklisted workers, Dave Smith, Steve Kelly and Roy Bentham, met with three representatives of the blacklist compensation scheme: John Taylor, the ex-chief executive of ACAS; Richard Slaven, a partner at Pinsent Mason solicitors; and Daryl Taylor. The meeting at the offices of Pinsent Masons solicitors in the City of London ended in acrimony when the delegation of blacklisted workers walked out following blunt exchanges.

Roy Bentham, blacklisted joiner from Liverpool and UCATT member, said: “These are not proposals designed for genuine negotiations. It is a piss take masquerading as a publicity stunt. We were not prepared to continue with the charade.

 

[fishfinger]

Piss take’ compensation proposals cause walk out

A grand

Not even a derisory offer. No wonder they walked out.

 

[brogdale]

The fucking arrogance of the bastards.

I see that John Mann has been pressing the Government to make Blacklisting a criminal offence. Now I've got nothing against that at all, but surely what these companies did, using information from the OB/Spooks is already illegal...(misconduct in public office etc.)?

How is the class action on behalf of some of the victims doing? Anyone know?

 

[cesare]

Piss take’ compensation proposals cause walk out

A grand. Ffs.

The minimum award under the blacklist regulations is 5k (max 65,300). That should be the starting point for *monetary* compensation at the very least. It's insulting - no wonder they told them to stick it up their profit margin.

 

[ddraig]

proper shocking
where is the £1000 figure reported please?

 

[brogdale]

proper shocking
where is the £1000 figure reported please?

BA's link.

 

[ddraig]

thanks and sorry, must have read that 3 times last night

 

[butchersapron]

Just to remind people, 20th November is the TUC day of action against blacklisting. Can people list stuff here? There is thing outside the welsh assembly that i think is going to act as focus for people down this way.