Secret police document on Blacklisting

A SECRET police document has revealed how the Metropolitan Police's Special Branch helped the illegal blacklisting of trade unionists - preventing them from getting jobs because of their political views. 

In one case, detectives suggested one individual was a terrorist, despite the claim being wrong.
The illegal practice - exposed ten years ago - involved major construction firms accessing secret files on 3,000 workers and their union activities.

But until now, little has been known about the police's role, other than a Scotland Yard admission it had been involved.

Part of the secret report underpinning that admission has now been disclosed, after initially being classified as so secret it was for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's eyes only.  The report - codenamed Operation Reuben - found "numerous areas of concern" with "inappropriate contact of Special Branch officers with private organisations", including with one of the two blacklisting groups, the Economic League and the Consulting Association.

Blacklisting: How it worked

• Blacklisting began with the Economic League in 1919 which shared records on left-wing activists with industry to keep them out of the workplace
• It was closed in 1993 after a Parliamentary inquiry. The Consulting Association sprang up to replace it
• The Information Commissioner's Office raided The Consulting Association in 2009, revealing for the first time the scale of the operation - triggering legal action that continues to this day
• In 2016 eight major construction firms offered settlements to end legal action: Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Keir, Lang O'Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska and Vinci 
• The Reuben investigators found no systematic records of the relationships - but one sharing incident from 1978 had been recorded after a senior officer intervened.
  On that occasion, a trade union activist had applied for a job making educational videos with a company linked to the construction industry.  
  The company passed the individual's name to the Economic League to be checked - which in turn contacted the police for any further intelligence "due to the perceived risk of involvement in education".
  "The receiving officer's initial inquiries revealed a potential link to [redacted] which in his opinion had not been resolved satisfactorily... he returned to EL asking for any further information, stressing the matter's importance due to the possible link to terrorism.
  "This was recorded as fact by the EL representative."
  EL then passed this on to the prospective employer - ending the candidate's chance of getting a job.
  
  
  The applicant appears to have learned that they had been "blacked by the security people".
  One of their relatives was a retired senior police officer who demanded an investigation - and that appears to explain why the incident remained recorded.
  One major blacklisting allegation is that an officer called Mark Jenner collected information after he infiltrated the construction union UCATT between 1995 and 2000.
  The report says that Jenner, who used the alias Cassidy, provided information on 300 people - and 16 of those appeared in the illegal blacklist database.
  Operation Reuben said it found no evidence to prove that Jenner directly provided that intelligence - but it added it could not rule out other officers doing so.
  Roy Bentham, joint secretary of Blacklist Support Group, said that many questions remain unanswered.
  "The police are supposed to uphold law and order, not spy on perfectly democratic organisations such as trade unions," said Mr Bentham.
  "Blacklisting is a national scandal and confirmation that the police colluded with this shameful and unlawful activity is beyond the pale."
• Police admit role in blacklisting workers
• New action over construction 'blacklist'

Imran Khan QC, lawyer for the Blacklist Support Group, said that the onus was now on the undercover policing inquiry to dig deep.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said that the internal report into blacklisting had established that "certain conduct" amounted to improper sharing of information under the law as it stands today.
"Allegations about police involvement with the 'blacklist' will be fully explored during the Undercover Policing Public Inquiry (UCPI)," said the spokesman.
"The Metropolitan Police Service will await the conclusions of the UCPI before considering any appropriate next steps."

************

Blacklisting dispute averted on Crossrail

forwarded to NV by Joe Bailey

THE threat of industrial action on Crossrail was averted after Unite members secured the reinstatement of an electrician suspected of having faced fresh blacklisting. 

Workers had raised fears over the dismissal in late February 2019 of Martin Overy, a former Unite safety representative, who was sacked almost immediately after getting a job at London’s Paddington station (Risks 887).  Mr Overy, whose name was included on the Consulting Association’s blacklist, was sacked five hours after signing a contract with Site Operative Solutions Limited.  In 2016 he received compensation for having been blacklisted, but has struggled to find work since. The union-backed Blacklist Support Group was concerned that Skanska, the company that controls Paddington, may have sought to get rid of him.  However, following a March meeting with Unite official Guy Langston, Mr Overy was reinstated.  In 2016, Skanska was compelled to formally apologise for its role in blacklisting workers. 

Blacklist Support Group joint secretary and Unite executive council member Roy Bentham said:  'This demonstrates that this union can defend its blacklisted members.  In an industry with such an appalling fatality record, workers who are prepared to raise concerns about safety should be valued.  But instead, the treatment of Martin Overy seems a blatant case of blacklisting.'

He added:  'The willingness of the rank and file to take action was never in question, and was central to Martin’s reinstatement.'

************

Blacklist Campaign & Police Involvement

LAST Wednesday with the walkout of the Spycops inquiry in a show of no confidence in Judge Mitting.  The Blacklist Support Group took that décision in solidarity with others families including the Lawrence’s and other groups being represented within these proceedings.

Our collective message was clear - We are done with stonewalling and whitewashes. 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/21/campaigners-stage-walkout-of-secretive-police-spying-inquiry

https://newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2018/03/23/spycops-victims-walkout-police-inquiry

https://leftfootforward.org/2018/03/government-must-restore-credibility-of-spy-cops-inquiry/

Last Friday - The Met Police finally officially confirmed that Special Branch and other police were involved in the Blacklisting of construction workers.  The following disclosures have now been widely reported in the worlds news. Blacklisted workers appeared and our supporters appeared on TV and radio throughout the day.  This has been 6 years going back to 2012 since we first raised it through our QC Imran Khan through the IPCC. 

Blacklist Support Group would like to have it placed on record our appreciation for all the activists, lawyers, investigative journalists, researchers, trade unionists and politicians who have worked alongside us and whose efforts have finally forced the Met Police to make these admissions. 

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43507728

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-trade-unions-latest-special-branch-blacklist-support-group-ipcc-construction-industry-a8270036.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/23/officers-likely-to-have-passed-personal-files-to-blacklisters-says-met

https://www.union-news.co.uk/met-police-admit-spying-on-trade-unionists-for-blacklisting-bosses/

https://evolvepolitics.com/of-course-the-met-police-colluded-with-blacklisters-how-else-did-i-appear-on-their-list/

After the revelations about police collusion in blacklisting,  Unite the Union are now considering opening new legal proceedings against the Met Police.  Watch this space 

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/police-blacklisting-admission-could-lead-to-fresh-legal-action/

https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/unite-poised-take-legal-action-against-met-over-blacklisting

With the above in mind, we ask supporters to highlight the Met Police admission to their local elected Police Commissioner, many of whom are Labour politicians and run our Police Forces.  We suggest that our supporters send letters using the text below as a standard template making amendments as you see fit:  

Blacklist Support Group open letter to our Police Commissioner’s over police collusion and spying. 

The Blacklist Support Group notes the recent and most shocking disclosures and statement of the Metropolitan Police regarding the undercover policing scandal.  It is with huge dismay that it has taken 6 years for the Metropolitan Police to admit that police supplied information to the unlawful construction blacklist.  And only then after our legal representatives complained to the IPCC back in 2012. 

Our attention must now turn to the solutions.  Aside from any legal action against these political policing units, we call upon Police Commissioners to now come out in full support of those who suffered as a consequence of these clandestine anti-democratic operations. 
 
We therefore ask the Police Commissioners to go on record and condemn the actions of the undercover police units spying on trade unions unreservedly and call for these covert political policing units that spy on legal democratic political campaigns should be disbanded immediately. 

Roy Bentham co-Secretary of the BSG added:

'This culture of impunity has to end.  As someone who seen it as a Hillsborough survivor it’s appalling it still appears to be rife within our police forces.  As Labour politicians, our commissioners also have a duty to serve the people who voted them in.  A statement on denouncing these black ops is surely the bare minimum and we need promises of transparency going forward as that is the only way to win our trust back as ordinary working class citizens'

Blacklist Support Group progress report:

Roy Benthan reports:

'Cheers for the heads up there Brian.  It [the Tameside MBC's broken model] looks like a carbon copy of our predicament here on Merseyside and i will be using your broken model when the time arises' 👍

Blacklist Support Group update - 6th March 2018. 

1. Model Blacklisting working group resolution which can be presented to all Constituency Labour Parties (CPL) passed at Liverpool Wavertree Constitutuency Labour Party last month. 

Model resolution (please amend as required):

This Constituency Labour Party notes Liverpool City Council’s ill-fated relationship with two of the most prolific Consulting Association blacklisters - namely Carillion and Laing O’Rourke, which has been brought into even sharper focus by the recent collapse of Carillion.

The CLP shares the Blacklist Support Group’s dismay that these rogue contractors have been securing public contracts within our city, thereby rendering the Cabinet's motion, passed in 2013, meaningless. It also contravenes the ethos of the document referred to as the 'Workers Charter'

The CLP therefore resolves to remind the Council that blacklisting was and still is an unacceptable practice, which cannot be condoned. We therefore urge that those companies who were members of the clandestine organisation, the Consulting Association, and any others found to be engaging in blacklisting, be removed forthwith from the approved list for future construction work procured by the Council.

Since these discredited contractors have continued to be awarded work in the city, this CLP calls for a working group to be set up, comprising two elected members of the Blacklist Support Group and the appropriate cabinet council members, to monitor this process of disengagement.

Roy Bentham, blacklisted carpenter from Liverpool and BSG joint secretary noted:

It’s a groundbreaking motion which sailed through a vote our CLP and it recognised the need for change within planning and the procurement processes. Carillion was a Grenfell moment within the construction industry and we can act as a vanguard against unethical companies with this resolution. 

The old model was broken and we need to face upto that.. Its now up to us fix it with the firm implementation of the workers charter. There can be no other way". 

http://www.left-horizons.co.uk/index.php?section=10&page=216

2. Spycops - Serious concern over ongoing delaying tactics at inquiry into undercover political policing 

http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/

http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2018/02/14/which-justice-campaigns-spied-on/

3. Was my friend an undercover police officer? 

Shocking revelations here too

http://undercoverresearch.net/1260-2/

4. Mark Constantine introduced our session at the Lush Summit 2018 by saying, “Spycops is THE most important campaign in the UK today”

5. BSG out in force with banners and showing support for the Keep NHS public day on Saturday 3rd March and RMT train drivers strike too 

6. Big feature article on John McDonnell in the FT on Friday 1st March. Both joint secretary’s Dave Smith and Roy Bentham contributed to the article of one of our founder members. 

McDonnell lists his hobby in Who’s Who as “fermenting the downfall of capitalism”. 

"Our objectives are socialist. That means an irreversible shift in the balance of power and wealth in favour of working people,” he explains. 

Dave Smith, head of the Blacklist Support Group, says he would often encounter McDonnell at a picket at 6.30am:  “When no one else was prepared to talk to us he was there . . . representing working people fighting for justice.”

Royston Bentham, a blacklisted construction worker from Liverpool, says McDonnell sometimes visits Anfield:  “People come over all the time and shake his hand and chant his name in the pub . . . he has been through the bad times in the Labour Party and is now on the cusp of something big.”

https://amp.ft.com/content/d9c2b1be-1c10-11e8-aaca-4574d7dabfb6?__twitter_impression=true

7. BSG member Jack Fawbert scribes another brilliant piece on his Blacklisting experiences here 

http://www.left-horizons.co.uk/index.php?section=10&page=204

8. Mears dispute has been won by the brothers and sisters emphatically up in Manchester. 

We send our solidarity upto the Nw on a magnificent victory 

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/mears-settles-manchester-dispute

9. And finally we stand shoulder to shoulder with our UCU comrades striking for pay and pensions in education and the Crossrail electricians in dispute with Balfour Beatty. They have our full support in their struggles.. 

http://shopstewards.net/2018/02/4802/

In solidarity 

Roy Bentham  

Blacklist Support Group comment on Carillion

CARILLION admitted in the High Court that they blacklisted workers who complained about safety on their building sites, while at the same time milking public sector contracts for millions.  Workers on projects run by Carillon need to be paid and are entitled to their pensions but no more public money should be given to the bosses of the disgraced company.   In any civilized society, these people would be facing criminal charges. 

When you invite blacklisting human rights abusers to run the NHS and school meals, don’t be surprised when vampire capitalism attempts to suck the taxpayer dry.  The government should bail out the NHS not Carillon or their bankers.  The government should nationalise Carillon now at the current market value of their shares (nothing) and go further by banning all of the construction companies involved in the blacklisting human rights conspiracy from any publicly funded contracts.  

Roy Bentham, blacklisted carpenter from Liverpool and Blacklist Support Group joint secretary commented:

‘Carillion going bust to me is Karma.  No tears crocodile or otherwise from me.  They were up to their neck in blacklisting union members for raising safety concerns.  They got caught and said sorry but they were only sorry for being caught.  The fact I couldn’t get employment on the Liverpool Royal Hospital or Anfield shows they never changed their spots.  The fact that the manager who placed me on the Consulting Association files back in 1995 was still working there up until this morning shows how serious they took this as a human rights abuse.  No one disciplined, never mind sacked over the scandal tells you all you need to know.’

Dave Smith, BSG joint secretary posted on his Face Book page:

'Carillon blacklisted me after I raised concerns about safety on their building sites; it ended up in the European Court of Human Rights.   At the very same time the company were milking public sector contracts including in the NHS.   Not another penny of taxpayers money should be given to these wretches.'

****** 

Blacklisting new claim in High Court

UNITE launches new blacklisting claim at High Court

Blacklist Support Group

Today, 14:53

Unite the Union has today launched a new blacklisting claim at the High Court. This time around they have named key individuals at the centre of The Consulting Association scandal as defendants including; Cullum McAlpine, David Cochrane (from Sir Robert McAlpine), Danny O'Sullivan (Kier) and Stephen Quant (Skanska), with the intention that these senior executives who orchestrated the conspiracy will be forced to account for their actions.

Following the settlement of the original High Court litigation in 2016, blacklisted workers have repeatedly stated that 'compensation is not the same as justice' and called for the union to use every means possible to ensure that directors of multi-national construction companies behind blacklisting were brought before a court. Blacklist Support Group fully endorses the new litigation and hopes that given that the costs risks have now been substantially reduced, this time around the guilty parties will be forced into a full trial. The sooner the better. 

Roy Bentham, secretary Blacklist Support Group commented:  "Blacklisting of union members and those prepared to stand up for basic legal entitlements is not just a breach of the law it is a violation of human rights. It is not just in the construction industry: blacklisting takes place in the NHS, in the North Sea and increasingly in the so-called gig economy where the lack of employment rights means the bosses continue to get away with it. This epidemic of victimization needs to be sorted out once and for all".    

The announcement comes in the same week as the Day of Action on Blacklisting that will see protests and lobbies of parliament across the UK.

Day of Action - Wed 6th December - please show solidarity at whichever protest you can get along to:

London

09:00 - Skanska office, Goswell Road, Barbican, London 

12:00 - Westminster lobby of parliament and rally 

Edingbugh 

9:30 - Meet at Unite Edinburgh Office
10:00 - Protest at St James Centre 
12:00 - Lobby the Scottish Parliament 

Leeds

08:00 - 10:00 City Square, Leeds, LS1 2, United Kingdom

Brighton

10am - Balfour Beatty, Sussex University, Brighton, BN1 9RH 

Birmingham

12.00 - McAlpine site Exchange Square, Urban Village Site, Gate 4, Dale End, B4 7LN

Durham 

17:00 - McAlpine site, Durham city centre (Milburngate shopping centre).

Video of the previous Day of Action on Blacklisting in 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avH1GhXRwaI&feature=youtu.be

Press coverage of the new High Court claim:

https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2017/dec/04/union-launches-new-legal-action-over-blacklisting-of-builders

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/unite-to-bring-leading-blacklisters-to-court/

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/12/04/unite-launches-new-round-of-blacklisting-legal-action/

And finally, BSG would like to send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Tommy Finn R.I.P.

Former chair of the Construction Safety Campaign, convenor of Hackney DLO in the 1990s, blacklisted and spied on by undercover police for standing up for the rights of his fellow workers. 

http://irishpost.co.uk/champion-for-irish-construction-workers-in-britain-tommy-finn-dies/

Blacklist Support Group

book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

Sir Robert McAlpine & the truth on blacklist?

THE Speaker of the House of Commons and the Sir Robert McAlpine chief executive both joined the war of words about the £29m contract to refurbish Big Ben being awarded to the blacklist company.  On Tuesday 5th September during a Westminster Hall debate on blacklisting MPs including Labour and SNP frontbenchers, Jack Dromey and Chris Stephens, joined Chuka Ummuna in calling for the company that was at the very heart of The Consulting Association human rights scandal to be stripped of the Big Ben contract. 

The former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna went further on Thursday 7th by raising a 'point of order' on the floor of the House of Commons asking the Speaker, his "views and advice with regard to the matter of Big Ben" adding, "what message do you think it sends to the victims of this gross injustice for this House to award a contract to a firm that not only funded the Consulting Association, but provided its first chair and ​another chair?"

John Bercow replied: that the question was "perfectly legitimately and reasonable" adding that although the company had been awarded the initial contract to provide scaffolding, the full contract had not yet been officially awarded to McAlpine.  The Speaker of the House of Commons summed up by confirming:

"It is important.   We are sensitive to it and we will be conscious in the days ahead of the reputational importance", and told MPs that he would make enquiries and make a further statement.

Stung by the ongoing criticism, the chief executive of Sir Robert McAlpine Limited, Paul Hamer wrote a letter to a number of newspapers claiming that "blacklisting has no place now or in the future” at his firm and that the contractor was committed fully to "a zero-tolerance policy towards blacklisting, illegal or unfair recruitment practices”.  Adding that “I am pleased to confirm that Sir Robert McAlpine complies fully with all legislation to prevent blacklisting and is committed to fair and transparent recruitment.”

Roy Bentham, blacklisted carpenter from Liverpool and Blacklist Support Group, joint secretary responded to the McAlpine statement:

"Paul Hamer might be the CEO but Cullum McAlpine owns the company and I sat behind Cullum McAlpine when he gave evidence to the select committee investigation. Upon advice from his lawyer who was sitting next to him throughout, the blacklister in chief smugly refused to answer questions put to him by MPs. 

"The select committee report stated that they were 'far from certain that all of our witnesses have told us 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth', despite many of them being under oath'.  Blacklisted workers completely agree with that assessment by MPs".

"30 years ago Sir Robert McAlpine Limited* denied blacklisting people as part of the Economic League, 10 years ago they denied blacklisting people as part of The Consulting Association.  And now they assure us that they've given up blacklisting completely.  Given the company's previous honesty on blacklisting, how could anybody possibly not believe them now?"

Unite assistant general secretary, Gail Cartmail said workers were “continuing to have their lives ruined simply for being a member of a union”.

*  In May last year, Sir Robert McAlpine Limited was one of eight multi-national contractors that made a public apology alongside a record breaking multi-million pound compensation payout in order to avoid prosecution at the High Court. 

Eight contractors – Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska and Vinci.

Roy Bentham says 'Blacklist never went away!'

Blacklisting debate in parliament 

5th September 2017 - 1:30pm 

Westminster Hall

Houses of Parliament

Blacklisting will be debated again by MPs in parliament in September after Chuka Umunna secured a Westminster Hall debate. This parliamentary procedure will last around 90 minutes and allows Chuka and other MPs who attend to ask questions of the government minister. This is an excellent opportunity to contact your own MP to ask them to attend the debate and raise issues such as ongoing contemporary blacklisting, a public inquiry or why public sector contracts are still being awarded to blacklist firms.

Roy Bentham, the Blacklist Support Group joint secretary, and a blacklisted carpenter from Merseyside commented:

"Despite the human rights conspiracy being exposed in the High Court, blacklisting has never gone away. Many union members continue to be barred from major construction projects right now in 2017. As someone who fell foul of contemporary blacklisting recently by Carillion on the Liverpool Royal Hospital, this parliamentary debate is most welcome. But the time for talking is over, what we need is action".

Blacklist Support Group will be attending - assemble 12:30pm outside the public entrance to parliament for any press photos etc.
 
Please Note: Westminster Hall debates take place in the Grand Committee Room off of Westminster Hall, NOT the chamber of the House of Commons.

Blacklist Support Group update 10th July 2017:

1. One word. Shocking. Undercover Police Monitored And Spied On Jeremy Corbyn for 20 years. Jeremy as ever has the BSG's full support

http://londonwebnews.com/2017/06/30/police-monitored-jeremy-corbyn/

2. Did Undercover Police Target Grenfell Residents Who Raised Fears About Safety?

Dave Smith representing. As above with Jeremy, the Grenfell residents can count on the BSG's support. As a Hillsborough survivor, i can assure the victims of the fire that they can count on our solidarity too

http://morningstaronline.co.uk/a-fcb3-Did-undercover-police-target-Grenfell-residents-who-raised-fears-about-safety#.WWB_tX_TXYW 
3. Blacklisted worker Roy Bentham causes the establishment and mainstream media to go into frenzy after being elected to a union liaison role in Wavertree Labour Party 
 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4670494/Luciana-Berger-threatened-deselection-hard-left.html

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/06/labour-mps-critical-of-corbyn-fear-deselection-after-get-on-board-warning?CMP=share_btn_fb

4. Protest in solidarity with great comrade of the Blacklist Support Group Bob Carnegie  over Lendlease. Special mention to BSG member Keith Dobie in coordinating last weeks demonstration against Haringey Council regarding their partnership with the rogue company. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=3aZbDY1MvOw

5.  There was a protest outside Housing conference  in Manchester Central (GMEX) on Thursday 29th June when the Mears CEO was speaking. 

Maintenance workers, employed by Mears and working on social housing in Manchester, are in the middle of 12 weeks of strike action over unequal pay and attacks on terms and conditions. 

The BSG sends its support and solidarity 

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/mears-using-manchester-pay-to-suppress-wages/

6.  'Blacklisted' book (echoing union activists) describes umbrella payroll companies in the construction industry as a giant scam designed to deny workers basic employment rights and at the same time deprive the tax man of billions in revenue. 

Now the bosses who orchestrated these schemes are starting to be sent to jail.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/06/14/umbrella-payroll-cheats-jailed-for-pocketing-45m/

7. Blacklisted workers travelled from across the country to the big Tories Out demonstration last Saturday. 

#NotOneDayMore 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40468881

8.  Calling all blacklisted workers or associates in the Manchester area!

MIF are working with the Turner Prize-nominated visual artist Phil Collins on a project for the Manchester International Festival on July 16th. Phil’s project is a very timely examination of current day working practices - minimum wage, zero hours contracts, blacklisting and exploitation. 

Get yourself along if you are in the area. 

http://mif.co.uk/mif17-events/ceremony/

9. Great result at the Football Supporters Federation AGM on Sunday at the FA National Centre in Burton. 70 Football fan groups voted in favour of boycotting the S*n from their respective clubs. 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hillsborough-disaster-latest-news-the-sun-boycott-fans-70-football-clubs-liverpool-sheffield-a7820391.html

10. 21st June. Jeremy Corbyn received one of our justice campaigns banner t shirts at a recent Unite Executive Council meeting in Holborn during an impromptu visit.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/jeremy-corbyn-receives-special-scouse-13217190

11. Durham Miners Gala. 8th July

Plenty of BSG members in attendance at an event which garnered record crowds with Jeremy addressing a reported 200,000 supporters. Don't forget Tolpuddle this weekend.  

12. Private Investigators spying on union and fracking activists

https://thebristolcable.org/2017/07/private-investigators-spying-fracking-trade-union-activists/

And finally best wishes to brother Dave Smith who is studying hard to get his PHD nailed. 

I'd also like to thank everyone within the group for campaigning magnificently on behalf of the Labour Party during the election too. 

Never forget. We are the many 

Roy Bentham (joint secretary)

Blacklist Support Group 

Fighting Fund to Expose Blacklisters

BELOW is a copy of a post on the whistle-blower Alan Wainwright's Blog.  It represents the setting up of a fund to support the legal case against Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Ltd. for their alleged part in the blacklisting of workers in the British building trade.  It is only fair to say that Mr. Wainwright himself has a certain history within the construction industry, but that this background gave him a unique insider's knowledge of how the British blacklist operated to the detriment of the lads on the tools.   We at Northern Voices believe that we live in an imperfect world, and that friends in adversity must come together in a common cause to make a better future for all.

Monday, 13 February 2017

UNITE (LIVERPOOL & TEESIDE) AND CAPENHURST SPARKS

Thanks to Roy Bentham, Tony Seaman and the lads at Unite's Liverpool and Teeside branches for kick starting the fighting fund for the legal work to expose Paul Raby, Gerry Harvey and all the other blacklisters at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Limited (BBESL).

I've just learned that the entire electrical workforce (some 400 plus) at BBESL's Capenhurst project have passed a motion to support my claim against their employer and collections will start this week. It is hoped that the mechanical (some 200 plus) will follow shortly.

Thank you to everyone who made this happen. 

UNITE (LIVERPOOL & TEESIDE) AND CAPENHURST SPARKS

The report below is taken directly from the whistle-blower, Alan Wainwright's Blog.  (Editor)

Thanks to Roy Bentham, Tony Seaman and the lads at Unite's Liverpool and Teeside branches for kick starting the fighting fund for the legal work to expose Paul Raby, Gerry Harvey and all the other blacklisters at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Limited (BBESL).
I've just learned that the entire electrical workforce (some 400 plus) at BBESL's Capenhurst project have passed a motion to support my claim against their employer and collections will start this week. It is hoped that the mechanical (some 200 plus) will follow shortly.
Thank you to everyone who made this happen.

Joint Trade Union Statement on Police Spies

Joint Union Statement: 

We the undersigned are outraged at the news that despite court orders to the contrary, the Metropolitan Police Service has destroyed evidence required for use in the Undercover Policing Public Inquiry. State spying on trade unions and political campaigns is a human rights scandal that affects millions of British citizens.  

Despite continued reassurances, the Pitchford Inquiry has failed to secure the documents that will be central to the investigation. Trade union core participants are beginning to question whether the Inquiry team has the ability to stop the police from obstructing the pursuit of justice. Lord Justice Pitchford needs to act now to restore our faith.  

We are calling on Lord Justice Pitchford to announce an urgent Inquiry hearing to examine the destruction of evidence by the police. The Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe should be forced to give evidence under oath to explain why, how and under whose authority documents have been destroyed. 

Lord Justice Pitchford needs to take immediate measures to secure all documentation held by the police, in order to prevent future destruction and avoid the entire inquiry descending into a hugely expensive cover-up on the part of the Metropolitan Police.  

SIGNED:

Len McCluskey (General Secretary) and Gail Cartmail (Acting General Secretary) UNITE the Union, incorporating UCATT 

Matt Wrack (General Secretary) Fire Brigades Union

Chris Kitchen (General Secretary) National Union of Mineworkers

Tim Roache (General Secretary) GMB union 

Mick Cash (General Secretary) Rail Maritime and Transport union 

Michelle Stanistreet (General Secretary) National Union of Journalists 

Dave Smith and Roy Bentham (joint secretaries) Blacklist Support Group

Call for Probe into Union Collusion in Blacklisting

WE THE undersigned, are writing this open letter in the spirit of fraternal debate among members of the newly merged Ucatt / Unite construction union.

The upsurge in industrial militancy in the last few years demonstrates that when the official union works alongside rank and file activists, it is possible to mobilise workers even in a hostile environment. The merger offers an opportunity to start anew the fight against the appallingly high fatality rates and casualisation of the construction industry by combining the best traditions of the two unions.

However, one issue threatens to cause internal friction:  possible union collusion in blacklisting.

Some years ago, both Ucatt and Unite carried out internal investigations into possible union involvement in blacklisting.  But that was at a time when barely any of the documentation was available.

Since the High Court case, all that has changed.  The employers were forced to provide witness statements and disclose 40 years’ worth of documentary evidence. It is now in the public domain that officials in both unions were recorded as the source of information on Economic League and Consulting Association blacklist files.  Some of those named, remain senior officials in Unite and Ucatt to this day.  Every union activist in construction knows who the named officials are, as does every major employer.

The leadership of both unions have now seen the evidence: discussions about those officials potentially implicated in blacklisting or with overly cosy relationships with industrial relations managers has been part of the behind the scenes discussions in the run-up to the merger.

The High Court litigation won a multimillion-pound settlement for blacklisted workers.  We fully acknowledge and recognise the tremendous legal, political and industrial campaigns that the unions have undertaken.

But compensation is not the same as justice.  No-one has been held accountable for their actions.   We remain resolute in calling for a public inquiry into blacklisting.  But that is for a future Corbyn government.  Now is the time to put our own house in order.

We the undersigned call upon the new Unite construction section to engage an independent legal expert to carry out a thorough investigation of the allegations relating to union collusion in blacklisting, with a remit drawn up in conjunction with the blacklisted workers.   If the implicated officials are completely innocent, then this is their opportunity to clear their name once and for all.  But if the independent investigation concludes that there is a case to answer, then the union should take the appropriate disciplinary action.  We are not looking for a witch-hunt, we simply want answers into possible union collusion in order to avoid repeating mistakes of the past.

This issue has haunted the union for years and until it is prepared to act, it will continue to be a running sore that hinders building unity in the newly merged union.  We need to unite in order to fight against unscrupulous employers and the Tories, but the newly merged union needs to start with a clean slate.

We urge members to please attend your branch or regional meetings, and send a motion in support of an independent investigation to the Unite EC.

Blacklist Support Group

Construction Rank and File (national)

And (in personal capacity)

• Steve Acheson, ex-Unite branch secretary and safety rep

• Dave Ayre, ex-Crook Ucatt branch secretary

• Brian Bamford, Secretary of Bury Unite Commercial Branch.
. Roy Bentham, ex-Ucatt steward and secretary Unite Liverpool construction

• Graham Bowker, treasurer Unite Manchester contracting branch

• Graeme Boxall, branch secretary Unite London construction branch

• Ian Bradley, Unite London contracting branch

• John Bryan, retired Bermondsey Ucatt

• Dan Collins, Unite London construction branch

• John Connolly, Unite Liverpool

• Paul Crimmins, ex-Ucatt branch secretary and steward

• Keith Dobie – ex-Ucatt steward & Tottenham branch president

• Stewart Emms, ex-Ucatt full time official

• John Flannaghan, ex-Ucatt, Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group

• Jack Fawbert, ex-Ucatt convener

• Lee Fowler, ex-offshore safety rep, Unite

• George Fuller, ex-Ucatt safety rep

• Jim Grey, Jubilee Line steward, Unite London contracting

• Jim Harte, chair Unite combine committee

• Brian Higgins, ex-Ucatt eastern regional council and branch secretary

• Kevin Holmes, chair, Unite Manchester construction branch

• Stewart Hume, Unite construction NISC

• John Jones, ex-Ucatt London regional council

• Tony Jones, Unite Manchester construction branch

• Steve Kelly, Jubilee Line steward, ex-Unite branch secretary

• Stephen Kennedy, Jubilee Line steward, Unite

• Greig McArthur, Unite construction NISC

• Frank Morris, Unite EC member for construction

• Kenny Newton, Unite construction

• Tony O’Brien, ex-Ucatt convenor and branch secretary

• Derek Pattison, Unite member and Chair of Tameside TUC
. Jason Poulter, secretary Unite Manchester construction branch

• Jim Ryan, Crossrail steward, Unite London contracting

• Tony Seaman – UNITE NISC, Middlesbrough branch secretary

• Pete Shaw, Unite construction RISC, Combine committee

• Dave Smith, ex-Ucatt branch secretary and London regional council

• Frank Smith, ex-Ucatt branch secretary and steward

• Billy Spiers, chair Unite construction NISC, ex-Amicus EC

• Tony Sweeney, ex-Ucatt Liverpool convener

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-85ef-Light-must-be-shed-on-trade-unions-blacklist-collusion

Blacklist Support Group

book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog