Blacklisting in Manchester, Tameside & Rochdale

ROCHDALE MBC has said in the past that it does not believe in awarding public contracts to companies that operate blacklists.  Manchester's City Council, also a Labour Council, has said much the same, and facing the threat of a national protest by trade unionists last November Manchester City Council passed the following resolution:
Re: Resolution on Blacklisting -Passed by Manchester City Council 9 October 2013:
'Manchester City Council is deeply concerned by revelations that major companies have been involved in “blacklisting” in order to deny employment to workers who
have engaged in trade union activity, such as reporting breaches of health and safety regulations.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) found that a blacklist of construction workers was maintained by an organisation called The Consulting Association who
traded for profit the personal information of over 3200 workers. This blacklist was used by over 40 companies and included information about workers’ personal
relationships, trade union activity and employment history.

The use of such blacklists is unacceptable and cannot be condoned, as it has a potentially negative impact on the employment rights of Manchester construction
workers.

This Council has constructive relationships with trade unions and upholds the right to freedom of association, and we expect all suppliers and partner organisations to do the same. Council calls on the Chief Executive to examine existing contracts with any of the companies listed by the ICO and ask for reassurances that the company uses no form of blacklisting to inform their employment decisions.'

The companies approached were Kier, Laing O'Rourke, Morgan Sindall, Wates, Lend Lease, Bramhall (Keepmoat), Cruden, Eric Wright, FMP, GB, Herbert T Forrest, ISG, Mansell, Seddon, Willmott Dixon, Askam, Conlon, Garside Laycock, Harry Fairclough, Lambert Gill, Manchester and Cheshire Construction, Morrison, Stobbarts, Strategic Team, Walter Carefoot & Sons.


Northern Voices' editorial comment: 
All of these companies have naturally denied their involement in operating a blacklist, and Manchester City Council seems to be accepting their assurance, despite the fact that several were found to be paid-up affiliates of the Consulting Association, and were found to be party to the illegal data base run by Ian Kerr when the office of Mr. Kerr was raided in 2009 by the Information Commissioner:  Kier, Laing O'Rourke and Carillion are all companies that were clearly part of Ian Kerr's Consulting Association.


But it is not just Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester City Council, who is close to Carillion and other companies that blacklist workers, Kieran Quinn the Labour leader of Tameside MBC has been busy awarding contracts to one of Britain's leading firms that has been blacklisting building workers.  Some time ago Adrian Mole, Carillion’s regional director, commented: 
 'We have a long-standing relationship with Tameside, where we have ongoing business interests.  For that reason we fully recognise the importance of a thriving local economy.  We are committed to working with all our partners and suppliers to do our best for the Tameside area.  One of the ways we can do this is through the Pride of Tameside Business Awards.' 
And on April 18th, 2014, the Tameside Independent News & Events site reported:

'Carillion, one of the UK’s largest construction and services companies, leads the list of major firms who are lending their support and sponsorship to the 2014 Pride of Tameside Business Awards.'

It was also noticed by Northern Voices that Rochdale's £11.5m transport interchange has now been completed and opened its doors to the public.  The  new interchange has replaced the outdated bus station in the town centre.  Yet, for more information we are urged to contact Mark Welsby the site manager for Keir Construction.  Kier Construction was another paid-up affiliate to Mr. Kerr's blacklisting Consulting Association, an off-shoot of the old Economic League.  All this regardless of Colin Lambert, Leader of Rochdale Council, last year telling us that Rochdale MBC wanted no truck with companies who blacklist workers and trade unionists.

_____________________________________________________

Letter to the unsuspecting, 

from the good bosses 

who just want Council contracts

The correspondence below is between Manchester City Council, and the response is from the construction companies seeking contracts to the allegation that they are operating a blacklist of trade union activists in the city:

Dear Annette

Further to my email below of 6th November [2013], I can now inform you that the 25 construction companies listed below were sent the following email, and have all now responded to say that they do not engage in such practices :-

Colin,
Re: Resolution on Blacklisting -Passed by Manchester City Council 9 October 2013:

'Manchester City Council is deeply concerned by revelations that major companies have been involved in “blacklisting” in order to deny employment to workers who
have engaged in trade union activity, such as reporting breaches of health and safety regulations.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) found that a blacklist of construction workers was maintained by an organisation called The Consulting Association who
traded for profit the personal information of over 3200 workers. This blacklist was used by over 40 companies and included information about workers’ personal

relationships, trade union activity and employment history.

The use of such blacklists is unacceptable and cannot be condoned, as it has a potentially negative impact on the employment rights of Manchester construction
workers.

This Council has constructive relationships with trade unions and upholds the right to freedom of association, and we expect all suppliers and partner organisations to do the same. Council calls on the Chief Executive to examine existing contracts with any of the companies listed by the ICO and ask for reassurances that the company uses no form of blacklisting to inform their employment decisions.'

Could you please confirm that your company uses no form of blacklisting to inform your employment decisions.



The companies approached were Kier, Laing O'Rourke, Morgan Sindall, Wates, Lend Lease, Bramhall (Keepmoat), Cruden, Eric Wright, FMP, GB, Herbert T Forrest, ISG, Mansell, Seddon, Willmott Dixon, Askam, Conlon, Garside Laycock, Harry Fairclough, Lambert Gill, Manchester and Cheshire Construction, Morrison, Stobbarts, Strategic Team, Walter Carefoot & Sons.

You are very welcome to contact me again if you feel that I can be of any further help.

Regards
Nigel

Cllr Nigel Murphy
Labour Member for Hulme Ward
Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration
Tel: 0161 234 3350 (Internal only 800 3350)