UNION chiefs are calling on Labour leaders to back them in a £600million case against Britain’s big name construction giants. The GMB has tabled a motion for this weekend’s Labour Party Conference in the row over alleged illegal “blacklisting” of 3,200 builders.
The workers were shunned by construction firms who used a database to check if they were shop stewards or alleged troublemakers. GMB national officer Justin Bowden said: “We’ll not rest until they get an apology and compensation.” ...
It comes amid growing speculation that construction firms will be forced to compensate workers they avoided. In 2009, the Information Commissioner revealed 44 firms had forked out to access the database to vet applicants. Those paying to use the service included BALFOUR BEATTY, CARILLION, MOWLEM. Lawyers at GUNEY, CLARK & RYAN believe compo could hit £600million. They have served notice on MCALPINE in a High Court test case on behalf of 86 builders. Guney partner Sean Curran said: “We believe we have a very strong case. Workers’ careers and family lives were devastated by being put on this blacklist.”
Human rights campaigners have threatened to sue the ICO for failing to contact those on the blacklist.
2. Crossrail blacklisting dispute now in its 2nd week.
http://reelnews.co.uk/sparks-flashmob-at-crossrail-site-oxford-st-26-09-12 /
http://industrialreporter.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/exclusive-accident-at-crossrail-after-safety-issues-highlighted /
3. Victimised & blacklisted scottish electrician Stewart Hume has today been fully reinstated by Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Ltd.
Well done Stewart - great news! Well done to everyone involved with the campaign for his reinstatement
4. The Financial Times is currently preparing a blacklisting story - keep an eye out.
Showing posts with label Mowlem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mowlem. Show all posts
Friday, 28 September 2012
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
TUC Motion on Illegal Corporate Bullying 2012: Final Version
Motion 15 - Illegal corporate bullying
Congress agrees the maintenance of secret lists of individuals or groups, (so-called 'blacklisting'), is illegal corporate bullying causing misery for individuals and their families.
Congress:
i condemns activities exposed in 2009 when the Information Commissioner’s Office raided the Consulting Association, which operated lists on behalf of over 40 UK companies including Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Mowlem, Laing O’Rourke and Wimpey, and maintained records on trade unionists, politicians, journalists, lawyers and academics.
ii agrees with Keith Ewing this was 'the worst human rights abuse in relation to workers' in the UK in 50 years
iii is alarmed that only a fraction of the 3,213 listed are aware of their inclusion
iv believes the ICO list is evidence of an endemic, systemic and deep-rooted culture
v agrees the level of wrong-doing and abuse exposed in the construction industry is equivalent to newspaper phone-hacking
vi welcomes assurances won by Labour MEPs from the European Commission on 'blacklisting' of trade union activists.
Building on the resolution agreed by Congress 2010, Congress instructs the General Council to:
a campaign to expose these illegal activities
b enable the ICO to reveal the names of the known victims of the Consulting Association
c call on politicians to bring social justice for the victims and their families
d encourage public bodies to review whether public contracts be awarded to companies involved in such activities
e call for a public enquiry on a par with the Leveson Inquiry and changes in the law to make “blacklisting” an imprisonable offence with unlimited fines for damages.
GMB
Amendment
» In paragraph 3, at end of sub-paragraph a, add: “including a day of action”
» Insert new sub-paragraph b and re-number subsequently:
'b campaign for stronger legal protection, including for agency workers'
» Add a new final sub-paragraph (g) at end:
“g support a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of blacklisted workers in
respect of a breach of their Convention rights – Article 8 on privacy and Article 11 on freedom of association.”
UNITE
Amendment
» In paragraph 2, add new sub-paragraph vii:
“vii welcomes the attempt by Liberty to get the ICO to reopen an investigation into the construction companies involved in blacklisting. This could lead to criminal prosecutions, fines and enforcement notices.”
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians
Amendment
» Add final paragraph at end:
'Congress welcomes the recent intervention by Liberty which has written to the Information Commissioner accusing him of inaction over a privacy scandal it compares to phone hacking. Congress also welcomes and supports those blacklisted workers who have recently commenced legal action for damages against construction industry giant Sir Robert McAlpine.'
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
Congress agrees the maintenance of secret lists of individuals or groups, (so-called 'blacklisting'), is illegal corporate bullying causing misery for individuals and their families.
Congress:
i condemns activities exposed in 2009 when the Information Commissioner’s Office raided the Consulting Association, which operated lists on behalf of over 40 UK companies including Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Mowlem, Laing O’Rourke and Wimpey, and maintained records on trade unionists, politicians, journalists, lawyers and academics.
ii agrees with Keith Ewing this was 'the worst human rights abuse in relation to workers' in the UK in 50 years
iii is alarmed that only a fraction of the 3,213 listed are aware of their inclusion
iv believes the ICO list is evidence of an endemic, systemic and deep-rooted culture
v agrees the level of wrong-doing and abuse exposed in the construction industry is equivalent to newspaper phone-hacking
vi welcomes assurances won by Labour MEPs from the European Commission on 'blacklisting' of trade union activists.
Building on the resolution agreed by Congress 2010, Congress instructs the General Council to:
a campaign to expose these illegal activities
b enable the ICO to reveal the names of the known victims of the Consulting Association
c call on politicians to bring social justice for the victims and their families
d encourage public bodies to review whether public contracts be awarded to companies involved in such activities
e call for a public enquiry on a par with the Leveson Inquiry and changes in the law to make “blacklisting” an imprisonable offence with unlimited fines for damages.
GMB
Amendment
» In paragraph 3, at end of sub-paragraph a, add: “including a day of action”
» Insert new sub-paragraph b and re-number subsequently:
'b campaign for stronger legal protection, including for agency workers'
» Add a new final sub-paragraph (g) at end:
“g support a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of blacklisted workers in
respect of a breach of their Convention rights – Article 8 on privacy and Article 11 on freedom of association.”
UNITE
Amendment
» In paragraph 2, add new sub-paragraph vii:
“vii welcomes the attempt by Liberty to get the ICO to reopen an investigation into the construction companies involved in blacklisting. This could lead to criminal prosecutions, fines and enforcement notices.”
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians
Amendment
» Add final paragraph at end:
'Congress welcomes the recent intervention by Liberty which has written to the Information Commissioner accusing him of inaction over a privacy scandal it compares to phone hacking. Congress also welcomes and supports those blacklisted workers who have recently commenced legal action for damages against construction industry giant Sir Robert McAlpine.'
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
GMB Blacklisting Motion for Trades Union Congress 2012
Page 15: Illegal corporate bullying
Congress agrees the maintenance of secret lists of individuals or groups, (so-called 'blacklisting'), is illegal corporate bullying causing misery for individuals and their families.
Congress:
i. condemns activities exposed in 2009 when the Information Commissioner’s Office raided the Consulting Association, which operated lists on behalf of over 40 UK companies including Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Mowlem, Laing O’Rourke and Wimpey, and maintained records on trade unionists, politicians, journalists, lawyers and academics.
ii. agrees with Keith Ewing this was ‘the worst human rights abuse in relation to workers’ in the UK in 50 years.
iii. is alarmed that only a fraction of the 3,213 listed are aware of their inclusion.
iv. believes the ICO list is evidence of an endemic, systemic and deep-rooted culture.
v. agrees the level of wrong-doing and abuse exposed in the construction industry is equivalent to newspaper phone-hacking.
vi. welcomes assurances won by Labour MEPs from the European Commission on ‘blacklisting’ of trade union activists.
Building on the resolution agreed by Congress 2010, Congress instructs the General Council to:
a. campaign to expose these illegal activities.
b. enable the ICO to reveal the names of the known victims of the Consulting Association.
c. call on politicians to bring social justice for the victims and their families.
d. encourage public bodies to review whether public contracts be awarded to companies involved in such activities.
e. call for a public enquiry on a par with the Leveson Inquiry and changes in the law to make 'blacklisting' an imprisonable offence with unlimited fines for damages.
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