The Scottish Affairs Select Committee
investigation into blacklisting is continuing with UCATT, GMB & UNITE
giving evidence this week. A second Interim Report is expected to be published
in March. Phil Whitehurt of the GMB and Steve Murphy both called for
blacklisting to be made a criminal offence with prison sentences. Bernard
McAulay attacked Crown House for their continued anti-union attitude.
2. Blacklist
Compensation Scheme latest:
At present there is no offer by the companies but the
blacklisting firms have requested a meeting in February to discuss a possible
compensation scheme. The Blacklist Support Group and Guney Clark & Ryan
solicitors for the High Court claim will be at the meeting, alongside UNITE,
UCATT and GMB and their legal teams. This is very early stages and there are no
concrete proposals as yet.
Any blacklisted worker wishing to join the GCR High Court
claim should contact Liam Dunne: dunne@guneyclarkryan.com
3. Shrewsbury Pickets:
The campaign to have the convictions of the Shrewsbury
Pickets quashed got a boost on Thursday this week when MPs voted in favour of
releasing all the documents currently held by the government relating to the
miscarriage of justice. The vote is not binding but will place pressure on the
documents that campaigners believe will expose a conspiracy between the police,
the government at the highest levels, security services and the building companies.
There is a 30 year rule for the release of government documents - the
Shrewsbury documents are 41 years old - what have they got to hide?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-25866461
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/unless-ricky-tomlinson-is-working-for-alqaida-national-security-is-an-odd-reason-for-secrecy-8462110.html
4. COPS meeting:
Blacklist Support Group is working alongside lawyers other
groups and individuals who have been spied on by undercover police including
the Lawrence Family, female activists who were sexually abused by the police,
environmental and anti-racist campaigners and left wing political groups. All
those involved are calling for a fully independent public inquiry to expose the
role of undercover police spying on campaigners. The first public meeting will
be held on Thursday 27th February 2014
UNITE the Union HQ ,
Holborn
5. Blacklist Support
Group meetings:
There have been 2 well attended BSG meetings held in London
in November 2013, one in the House of Commons on the TUC Day of Action on 20th
November and another on 29th November following the High Court case.
BSG meeting (Liverpool)
11am Saturday 22nd February 2014
UNITE Offices,
Liverpool.
6. Alder Hey Hospital:
Blacklist Support Group has organised a number of protests
outside Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool about ongoing blacklisting by Laing
O'Rourke. This was raised in the Select
Committee by Steve Murphy this week. Photo from the early morning protest attached.
7. Balfour Beatty:
Blacklisting firm Balfour Beatty is currently in dispute
with building workers on their Shetland Gas Plant.
UNITE & GMB SHOP STEWARDS COMMITTEE SHETLAND GAS PLANT press
statement:
Date: 21/01/14
'This afternoon at a Unite & GMB mass meeting of
engineering construction workers at the Total’s new build Shetland Gas Plant,
the union members voted unanimously to reject the offer tabled by the main
contractor, Petrofac, concerning the dispute over travel time & shared accommodation
in bunk beds. The workforce will now start industrial strike action on the
Shetland Gas Plant with a 24 hour stoppage of work starting at midnight
Thursday 23rd/ Friday 24th January. Petrofac have also been informed that there
will be further strike action in the coming weeks, until an acceptable offer is
made to the engineering construction workers on the Shetland Gas Plant.'
Note:
Companies involved in the dispute are Petrofac, Balfour Beatty Engineering
Services, Bilfinger Industrial Services (BIS) & Randridge.
Balfour Beatty are also currently involved in a pensions,
sick pay, holiday pay dispute known as the 3 COSAS campaign with the support
staff at University of London. The workers are on official strike 3 days next
week 27th-29th January 2013.
BSG will be supporting the 3 COSAS campaign especially on
Tuesday 28th January.
Senate House,
Malet Street, WC1E 7HU (nearest tube: Russell
Square).
8. Smith v Carillion EAT judgement - agency workers not
protected by UK law.
Our view: http://www.hazards.org/blacklistblog/2014/01/22/blacklisting-case-highlights-dangerous-loophole/
Scottish Parliament Motion submitted by Neil Findlay MSP
Motion Number: S4M-08824
Lodged By: Neil Findlay
Date Lodged: 22/01/2014
Title: Blacklisting, Smith v Carillion:
That the Parliament
notes the employment appeal tribunal judgement of Smith v Carillion (JM) Ltd,
which, it understands, considered a high profile blacklisting case; recognises
that, in her written judgement, Mrs Justice Slade identified human rights
violations and expressed concern that the secretary of the Blacklist Support
Group, Dave Smith, 'suffered an injustice from blacklisting';
understands that the ruling found in favour of Carillion because, as Mr Smith
was not directly employed by the construction multinational but instead by an
employment agency, he was not protected by employment law, and understands that
Mr Smith is now considering how to take his case forward to the next stage.
9. John Flavin ex-President of UCATT has made a submission
to the Select Committee and makes accusations about police and union
involvement with blacklisting.
10. Blacklisted Book:
Later this year, Pluto Press are publishing a book on
blacklisting by Phil Chamberlain and Dave Smith. The deadline for the
manuscript is very soon. Anyone wishing to provide information useful to the book
please get in touch asap.
Blacklist Support Group
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