Blacklisting debate in parliament

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, BSG joint secretary and 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.

Unite instruct a barrister to review documentary evidence of possible union collusion in blacklisting

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/29/unite-asks-barrister-to-examine-worker-blacklisting-collusion-claims

BSG believe that this is a vital first step in the right direction. Well done to everyone who has fought for this over the years, including all those signed the original Open Letter and the UNITE EC members who raised it at the highest level of the union.

Our original Open Letter calling for an independent investigation:

https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-85ef-Light-must-be-shed-on-trade-unions-blacklist-collusion#.WaaabK2ZPeQ

Len McCluskey’s response in The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/04/unite-officials-face-allegations-of-collusion-with-firms-that-are-blacklisting-activists

Spycops

Have the Met Police got no shame?

Helen Steel tells Met “I’m not paying £7,000 for your spycops cover up”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/28/woman-deceived-by-police-spy-refuses-to-pay-met-legal-bill?CMP=share_btn_fb

https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-da07-Metropolitan-Police-sink-to-new-low-in-spycop-scandal#.WaaTLK2ZPeS

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/29/met-police-spied-lied-money-victims-helen-steel?CMP=twt_gu

http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2017/08/29/police-demand-money-back-from-compensated-spycops-victim/

‘Andrea’ on spycops attempts to avoid giving evidence in public to public inquiry:

http://morningstaronline.co.uk/a-6a16-Dont-let-the-spycops-off-the-hook#.WZ70oK2ZPeR

Ricky Tomlinson on spycops targeting unions & Shrewsbury Pickets:

https://www.thecanary.co/2016/08/12/ricky-tomlinson-produces-economic-league-blacklist-channel-4-news-listed-asks/

Spycops fringe meeting at Labour Party conference co-hosted by Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers & Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance.

Monday 25th September 7pm

Speakers include: Richard Burgon MP – Helen Steel – Dave Smith

labour-party-conference-fringe-meeting-brighton

The only trade unionist on the Equalities & Human Rights Commission has been sacked by the Tory minister – solidarity with Sarah Veale

http://www.union-news.co.uk/outrage-as-trade-unionist-sacked-from-ehrc-board/

Heather Heyer R.I.P.

A heroic trade union comrade murdered by Nazis in Charlottesville. Blacklist Support Group send solidarity to all those standing up to white supremacist ideology and will support anti-fascists against the BNP, NF and EDL in the UK.