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

Blacklist Support Group Official Bi-AGM Report

THE Blacklist Support Group bi-annual general meeting took place in Glasgow on Saturday 7th March 2015, chaired by Roy Bentham.  Below is a summary of the main topics discussed:

1. The meeting opened with a minutes silence for blacklisted scaffolder and Shrewsbury campaigner Mick Abbott and other comrades who have passed away recently.

 

2. Treasurer's Report was presented by Steve Kelly and agreed by the meeting. Two new auditors were elected.

The meeting passed a message of thanks to all those individuals, union branches and organisations who have financially supported the campaign.  Without your support the BSG would be unable to operate.

 

3. Secretary's Report was presented by Dave Smith

Six years of campaigning led by blacklisted workers themselves has resulted in a situation where a public inquiry into the national scandal is nearly within reach. We have been campaigning for this non-stop and everyone involved should be proud of what we have achieved so far.  The publication of the 'Blacklisted' book at this time, is a conscious attempt to make blacklisting and surveillance by corporations and the police part of the General Election debate.  The media coverage about undercover police spying on trade unions generated by the book has already caused waves. The book is very much a team effort by all those involved in the Blacklist Support Group - investigative journalists, trade unions, lawyers, politicians, social justice campaigners but mostly blacklisted construction workers.  We thank you all.

The official book launch is not until Thursday 12th March in parliament - but the first people to see copies were the blacklisted workers at the BSG meeting.  A copy of 'Blacklisted' was presented to George Tapp, for his services to the campaign.  George was attending the meeting on crutches after he both his knee caps were fractured after he was dragged 100 yards down the road by a vehicle in Manchester during a protest against blacklisting.  George told the meeting that he was still suffering complications because of his head trauma.

4. Election of Committee

Brian Higgins, the Northampton based bricklayer with the largest blacklist file in the country had decided to stand down from the BSG committee but passed on his message of support.  The meeting gave Brian an ovation for the hard work he has carried out in the fight against blacklisting for over 30 years, from the Laing's Lock Out Committee to the tireless work in getting the issue raised in Europe and for his period on the national committee of the BSG. 

The newly elected committee are:  Steve Acheson, Steve Kelly, Dave Smith, Roy Bentham, Steve Kennedy, Stewart Hume

Auditors: Andy Wilkes, Steve Ballard

5. Guest Speaker - Ian Davidson MP

Ian Davidson MP, chair of the Select Committee investigation into blacklisting praised the campaigning work of the BSG and said he supports the call for a full public inquiry into blacklisting as the only way of exposing the full extent of the conspiracy.  He told the meeting that there will be a new report published before the General Election.  The Select Committee has been provided with a vast amount of new documentation relating to blacklisting that is not currently in the public domain. This will be placed on the parliament website for all to see before the Election.

The BSG gave Davidson an ovation and want to put on record our sincere gratitude for the magnificent work that he has undertaken in parliament on behalf of blacklisted workers.  The Select Committee investigation has brought blacklisting into the political mainstream and his role as chair was crucial in moving the story forward. The blacklisted workers present genuinely appreciate his efforts.

 

6. Crossrail

Guest speaker Helen Clifford - from Leigh Day solicitors told the meeting about the Crossrail safety issues highlighted by the narrative verdict in the Corners Court inquest into the death of Rene Tkacik on Crossrail.  A whistleblower has exposed the climate of fear on the project, where workers are worried of losing their job if they complain about safety issues but this evidence was not allowed in the inquest.  The meeting endorsed the statement from London Hazards Centre

Dan Collins - a UNITE union member from London has been sacked from Crossrail after he raised safety concerns. Originally the Costain - Skanska joint venture agreed that he should be reinstated but the two blacklisting companies have both reneged on their promise.

The BSG AGM and the construction rank & file unanimously agreed to launch a national campaign to get Dan Collins reinstated on Crossrail and improve safety on the project by allowing proper involvement of the workers.  We appeal to all our supporters to identify Crossrail, Costain & Skanska projects across the UK and organise local direct action protests.  Flyer for us in the campaign is attached. Post reports and pix of any actions on social media under the hashtag #crossfail

REINSTATE DAN COLLINS

END THE BLACKLIST

SAFETY BEFORE PROFITS

FULL UNION RECOGNITION AGREEMENT ON CROSSRAIL

Planned Protests:

7am Wed 11th March - Bond Street tube

5:30pm Friday 13th March - Bond Street tube

6pm Wed 18 March - Construction News Awards - Hilton, Park Lane. 

7. The meeting sent a message of support to the PCS union and victimised National Gallery rep Candy Unwin. 

8. We went to the pub - and raised a glass (or two) to absent friends.

Blacklist Support Group

Today's Blacklist Events!

'I’ve been sacked so many times at Christmas that my kids thought it was part of the Father Christmas story, except that the ‘sack’ was empty'. 

Blacklisted bricklayer and UCATT branch secretary, Dave Ayre from Crook, County Durham 

Wednesday 17th December

9:30am - High Court blacklisting trial continues (Photo-opportunity for the press) 

Royal Courts of Justice

The Strand

4:30pm Blacklist Support Group parliamentary meeting (press welcome) 

Committee Room 17

Houses of Parliament

Westminster

Update from the High Court legal action plus ongoing campaign including the compensation scheme, public inquiry, police collusion, publicly funded contracts. Expect some breaking news.

Speakers: John McDonnell MP, Dave Smith (BSG sec), Steve Acheson / Steve Kelly (BSG co-chairs), Justin Bowden (GMB), Liam Dunne (GCR solicitors), Howard Beckett (UNITE Legal) 

7pm - BSG Festive drink (we deserve it) 

Westminster Arms

Storey's Gate

Westminster

London

SW1H 9NH

Blacklist Support Group

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

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