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. Continue reading “Blacklisting debate in parliament “
BSG set up a video shoot with other rank & file union activists outside parliament and the Conservative Party HQ last week.
This is the outcome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTMdi8hLEeE
Share this video to support the campaign. The pop-up gig by Steve White & The protest family on the steps on Tory Party Central office has also started a Guerrilla Gig Challenge amongst musicians – if you know any band that has performed a political slot in the street or outside a hustings, post a video on social media using the hashtag #GE2017GuerrillaGigChallenge
While at the gig outside Tory Party Central Office, the Reel News photographer Guy Smallman managed to take photos of Steve Back leaving the Tory HQ, the photojournalist whose pictures have been used to smear Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.
See here: https://www.facebook.com/ReelNews/posts/10155375652174605?pnref=story
T-shirts available from: http://hat-scarf-or-a-badge.com/epages/915e4285-c20f-4bb0-8d60-8ddcaf597b83.mobile/en_GB/?ObjectID=21040654
Associated media coverage:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/confident-scousers-plan-jeremy-corbyn-13126022
Criminal cases Review Commission
5 St Philip’s Place
Birmingham
B3 2PW
This is because of the CCRC reluctance to give a decision on whether of the not the case of the Shrewsbury Pickets is to go to the court of appeal. Campaigners have been told time and time again that a decision is imminent. The case of the Shrewsbury Pickets is 45 yrs old. There can be no place in our society for miscarriages of justice to go unchallenged.
New judge to take over at the undercover police inquiry due to the ill-health of Lord justice Pitchford.
http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2017/06/04/new-spycops-public-inquiry-chief-named/
Scottish police were seconded to work in the disgraced NPOIU undercover policing unit – little wonder campaigners complain about the police investigating themselves again – Full public inquiry needed in Scotland.
LSE cleaners – fighting for equal rights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VJ2RXYLK2c
NHS protests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCbHEd2O6bQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8H4Yg2Ckc
7.And finally;
‘Liar Liar’ by Captain Ska – the song banned by the BBC has become the soundtrack to the general election and is number 4 in the charts – enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxN1STgQXW8
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
Every political party in the General Election is claiming to be the voice of the workers. Blacklisted construction workers know the score.
http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/workers/
This pledge was announced by John McDonnell in St.George’s Hall, Liverpool last week in front of the huge Blacklist Support Group banner.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-dc1a-No-blacklist-justice-for-Britains-agency-staff
Reel News video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKhQdLpUm4&t=129s
New 59 page ruling from the undercover police public inquiry. Releasing the cover names of undercover police officers who spied on activists is a ‘priority’ but Lord Justice Pitchford allows Met Police another 12 months extension to carry out ‘risk assessments’ in preparation for more anonymity applications. But the police are not engaged in ‘delaying tactics’, oh no.
https://www.ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/20170502-ruling-MPS-applications-re-SDS.pdf
Victims boycott Scottish police internal investigation
http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2017/05/03/spycops-victims-boycott-scottish-inquiry/
Scottish activist spied on by police seeks judicial review to win a Scottish inquiry
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/undercover-policing-scotland/
Other than John McDonnell and Jenny Jones, most politicians have been surprisingly quiet about the spycops scandal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh6vCsfaKWU&t=3s
Friday 5th May – Blacklisted worker turned academic Dr Jack Fawbert speaking on Corporate Crime 7 Blacklisting at Anglia ruskin University in Cambridge
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/anglia-ruskin-university-community-engagement-1110250731
22nd May – Last day to register to vote in General Election
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Congratulations to the blacklisted workers and rank & file activists elected to represent construction on the UNITE Executive Council Frank Morris, Royston Bentham, Tony Seaman & Joseph Pisano
Blacklist Support Group
Blacklisted workers were kept under surveillance by big business but also by the British state who exchanged information with major employers. BSG are among the core participants in the Pitchford public inquiry into undercover policing and will therefore be attending the protest at the next hearing:
Protest at undercover policing public inquiry hearing – all welcome
9am Wed 5th April 2017
Royal Courts of Justice
The Strand
The police have confirmed the name of another undercover police officer who spied on activists during the 1980s. His real name is Roger Pearce and he is now a writer but his assumed name was ROGER THORLEY. Which campaigns he infiltrated is so far unknown. Does anyone recognize or remember him? Photo attached
http://powerbase.info/index.php/Roger_Pearce
Police admit to hacking activists emails & targeting Make Poverty History – oh and if you retire, they will drop all investigations of destroying evidence (apparently)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39341020
Orgreave
We made some noise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKAAVgM0cqA
Pix: https://www.facebook.com/paul.rutland.94/media_set?set=a.1245970435499805&type=3
Don’t Buy The S*n
Blacklist Support Group together with the construction rank & file have paid for a Liverpool taxi to be covered in Don’t Buy The S*n livery – we are very proud to support such a worthwhile campaign and big thank you to Mo for allowing his taxi to be used. Photo attached.
Durham TAs
BSG were represented on the Durham TAs Day of Solidarity
background: http://shopstewards.net/2017/03/nssn-333-teaching-assistants-still-fighting-in-derby-and-durham/
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/familiesagainstblacklist/
Jobs Town Not Guilty
BSG are supporting anti-water charge activists in Ireland facing jail for a peaceful protest – including a 17 year old school student and Paul Murphy TD
https://sites.google.com/view/jobstownnotguilty/
Ferrybridge power station walkout
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-39427982
New Internationalist
‘Blacklisted’ book was controversial and we received multiple legal threats prior to publication. The only publishers we could find who were prepared to take the risk were New Internationalist (NI), who have subsequently worked in collaboration with the BSG at political events in the Westminster and Holyrood parliament and were sponsors of our two day conference at the University of Greenwich last September.
New Internationalist are a coop who have been publishing their well respected magazine for decades and also publish a series of books. Following the success of Blacklisted, NI have now set up a new trade union imprint and will be publishing more books aimed at a union audience. In order to survive in the current economic climate, NI have decided to offer their readers the chance to buy shares in the coop. So far Desmund Tutu, John Pilger, Emma Thompson, Jarvis Cocker and Billy Bragg among others have supported the cause. This is the video (you might recognize some of the people and some of the books): https://youtu.be/eOO7ZuNkHUY
Crossrail prosecution over death of Rene Tkacik
silent vigil – Westminster magistrates court
Wednesday 12th of April at 2pm
nearest tube Edgware Road NW1 5BR
organized by Construction Safety Campaign supported by London Hazards Centre
International Workers Memorial Day
28th April 2017
Remember the Dead – Fight for the Living
Bristol – with Phil Chamberlain – https://network23.org/bristolhazardsgroup/
Dear John,
RE: TSSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTION 11 – BLACKLISTING
I am writing to you with the text of a resolution carried by delegates at TSSA’s Annual Conference which the Union’s Executive Committee has asked me to convey to you:
“That this Conference supports trade union efforts to expose and challenge historic and current blacklisting.
Conference notes that the Labour Party is opposed to blacklisting and welcomes the statement by John McDonnell MP that ‘Labour will do everything in our power to ensure that taxpayers’ money is only given to companies with the highest ethical standards’.
Conference urges the EC to explore actions that can be taken to persuade Network Rail not to let contracts to known blacklisting companies”.
As you will know, TSSA is a union that operates principally within the rail industry in Britain and Ireland, and it is for this reason that the resolution also includes references to Network Rail, the infrastructure manager for most of the railways of Britain. The company carries out a lot of its renewal and enhancements work through using contractors and sub-contractors, amongst whom are Carillion and Balfour Beatty. Both of these organisations have been subject to judicial proceedings which ended up by being settled for significant sums of money in May 2016.
Whilst the payment of compensation is an admission of culpability by these and other construction firms, it doesn’t really recompense blacklisted workers for the hardships that they have endured. On this basis, I am writing to you to also convey TSSA’s support for your stance on blacklisting and to add our voice to calls to both remove offending companies from contracting lists (especially those used by public sector organisations like Network Rail) and to demand a public inquiry into the whole issue.
Yours sincerely
Rob Jenks
Policy Advisor
Blacklist Support Group
Blacklist Support Group hold their head in shame after being praised
by a Tory government minister
Full transcript: http://myparliament.info/Debates/Commons/2017-02-08/18857
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-a586-Ministers-reject-latest-calls-for-blacklisting-probe#.WK75MTKcbeR
http://leftfootforward.org/2017/02/unite-backs-chuka-umunnas-call-for-blacklisting-public-inquiry/
ETUC calls for more legal protection on blacklisting:
https://www.etuc.org/documents/whistleblowing-and-protection-blacklisting#.WK78ezKcbeS
2. Haringey council protests
Huge demonstrations organized by unions and community groups took
place last week in the London Borough of Haringey against the decision
by the council to work with the blacklisting firm Lend Lease
(previously Bovis) in a £2billion regeneration scheme. Blacklisted
bricklayer and Tottenham resident Keith Dobie spoke on behalf the BSG
reminding councillors how their new corporate partner had a history of
blacklisting back as far as the Economic League but more recently in
Australia their anti-union antics saw trade unionists threatened with
jail for peaceful picketing, including the friend and comrade of the
BSG, Bob Carnegie
http://www.itfglobal.org/en/news-events/press-releases/2013/february/bob-carnegie-case-itf-statement/
http://www.housingexcellence.co.uk/news/gmb-union-slams-haringey’s-“reckless-privatisation”-plan-ahead-critical-council-meeting-protest
https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40014/Haringey+march+against+re+development
http://www.24housing.co.uk/news/haringey-council-tenants-protest-against-social-cleansing/
3. Spycops
Powerful new spycops film (very short):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uas6uAxbhEg&feature=youtu.be
Met Police destroy evidence and ask for further delays to Pitchford
public inquiry into undercover policing
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/08/inquiry-over-met-police-intelligence-unit-claimed-to-have-destroyed-files?CMP=share_btn_twhttp://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-8404-Unions-fight-to-expose-Mets-dirty-secrets#.WKLlWZHfWhA
http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2017/02/13/union-leaders-call-hogan-howe-explain-shredding/https://undercoverinfo.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/destruction-of-political-policing-files-goes-back-decades-will-the-met-face-charges/
http://www.union-news.co.uk/unions-call-for-fresh-enquiry-into-how-spy-cop-evidence-disappeared/
https://jennyjones.org/2017/02/06/are-the-police-spying-on-the-witnesses-at-the-inquiry-about-them-spying-on-people/http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/GMB-slams-met
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38984140
http://realmedia.press/law-unto-spycops-miscarriages-justice/
http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/politics/colin_roach_centre_dalston_activist_duped_into_relationship_with_undercover_cop_hits_out_as_police_destroy_evidence_1_4884171
Spycops in Ireland
Paul Murphy TD names UK spycops operating in the Republic during
debate in Irish parliament:
Video: https://www.facebook.com/paulmurphytd/videos/1255015057920232/
Victory for campaigners in Northern Ireland court:
http://www.itv.com/news/utv/2017-02-07/undercover-officers-linked-to-two-ni-murders/
http://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0207/850802-undercover-northern-ireland/
4. Shrewsbury Pickets & Grunwick
John Pilger documentary (1975) about UK conspiracy laws used to clamp
down on dissent especially in Shrewsbury trial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFDJW46YfEI&feature=youtu.be
Grunwick: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2017/feb/06/covert-infiltration-of-key-strike-to-be-examined-at-public-meeting-next-week?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard
5. Employment rights legal victory
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38931211
6. Blacklisted workers take on Paul Nutall in Stoke
Blacklist Support Group went on the campaign trail against the UKIP
fantasist Paul Nuttall in Stoke this week – Lee Fowler and Jimi Kindri
representing
Roy Bentham interview
https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/44110/Racist%2C+lying+bandwagon+jumper+Nuttall+should+have+stayed+at+Tranmere+Rovers
5. Dates for the diary where Blacklist Support Group will be attending
with our banners:
Save the NHS national demo – London
Sat 4th March
Orgreave – Make Some Noise demo (flyer attached)
2pm Monday 13th March
Durham TAs strike – Solidarity Day
Sat 25th March
Spycops protest – Royal Courts of Justice
Wed 5th April
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
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
Happy 2017, and a massive thank you to everyone who has assisted the blacklisting campaign throughout 2016 and beyond. Last year saw a historic outcome in the High Court litigation, something few of us thought possible when we first started this fight but a half hearted apology and financial compensation is not the same as justice. That’s why our fight continues for a full public inquiry.
Phil Chamberlain will be giving a free public talk and book signing at Gerakbuduya bookshop in Kuala Lumpur on January 17 from 8-11pm.
More details on the bookshop here: http://gbgerakbudaya.com/bookshop/or on twitter @GerakBudaya
address: No. 2, Jalan Bukit 11/2, 46200 Petaling Jaya which is about 10 minutes walk from Tama Jaya metro station
This coming Saturday there is a protest at Harrods over the company keeping the tips given to staff. BSG encourage as many people as possible to attend and show solidarity with the waiting staff. Wear your Blacklisted t-shirts as there will be a music video shoot for the new song ‘Us the Workers’ by the cutting edge MC, Potent Whisper – meet at Knightsbridge Tube 2pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1133047913458998/?ti=icl
Blacklist Support Group sends comradely greetings to all construction workers now in the same union following the merger of UCATT and UNITE on 1st January. Let’s hope the newly merged union takes a strong stance against the exploitative employers who have blacklisted our reps and denied their workforce basic employment rights for too long.
The people who brought us Brigadista Beer to commemorate the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War are launching Trade Union Pale Ale in February, with events in both Manchester and London. There is a special edition blacklisting version. We need people to represent, to drink the beer and take photos of the bottles. And more importantly get your local pub or club to order bottles via [email protected]g.uk –
Tickets available for the launch events from: http://www.kingsarmssalford.com/index.php?id=9#02/10/2017
Len McCluskey:
“I undertake to ensure an independent review of this new evidence when I am re-elected General Secretary of Unite and after the new High Court proceedings have concluded”.
Full story and quote:
http://www.unite4len.co.uk/len-mccluskey-vows-carry-fight-blacklisted-workers/
Full text of original Open Letter (with more names added):
OPEN LETTER FROM BLACKLISTED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
We the undersigned, are writing this open letter in the spirit of fraternal debate amongst 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 casualization 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, 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 multi-million pound settlement for blacklisted workers. We fully acknowledge and recognise the tremendous legal, political and industrial campaigns that the unions have undertook.
But compensation is not the same as justice: there has still been no-one 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.
Yours fraternally:
Blacklist Support Group
Construction Rank and File (national)
(plus in a personal capacity)
Steve Acheson – ex-UNITE branch secretary & safety rep
Dave Ayre – ex-Crook UCATT branch secretary
Royston Bentham – ex-UCATT steward & 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
Terry Brough – ex-UCATT North West Regional Council
John Bryan – retired Bermondsey UCATT
Daniel Collins – UNITE London construction branch
John Connolly – UNITE Liverpool
Paul Crimmins – ex-UCATT branch secretary & steward
Dan Dobson – ex-UNITE SE construction branch secretary
Stewart Emms – ex UCATT full time officials
Peter Farrell – UCATT, Construction Safety Campaign
John Flannaghan – ex-UCATT, now UNITE
Jack Fawbert – ex-UCATT convener
Lee James 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 & branch secretary
Kev Holmes – chair, UNITE Manchester construction branch
Stewart Hume – UNITE construction NISC
John Jones – ex-UCATT London Regional Council
Tony Jones – UNITE Manchester construction branch
Bill Kaye – UNITE Eastern Region
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
Tony O’Brien – ex-UCATT Southwark convenor & branch secretary
Jason Poulter – secretary UNITE Manchester construction branch
Jim Ryan –Crossrail steward, UNITE London contracting
Tony Seaman – UNITE construction NISC
Pete Shaw – UNITE construction RISC, Combine committee
Dave Smith – ex-UCATT branch secretary & London Regional Council
Frank Smith – ex-UCATT branch secretary & steward
Billy Spiers – chair UNITE construction NISC, ex-AMICUS EC member
Tony Sweeney- ex-UCATT Liverpool convener
Colin Trousdale – ex-UNITE NW Region RISC
Victor Williams – Unite construction
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-a666-Compensation-could-never-equal-justice#.V_4bC_krLs2
The senior police officer who gave the PowerPoint presentation at a Consulting Association meeting to senior executives of blacklisting construction companies is suing the GMB union for defamation. You couldn’t make it up!
http://www.policeprofessional.com/news.aspx?id=27378
Jailed Shrewsbury picket turned national treasure Ricky Tomlinson spoke at a packed out Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) public meeting on Monday night. He talked about the conspiracy between building employers and the state that resulted in his imprisonment and the chemically induced Parkinson’ Disease that killed his friend Des Warren. Over 40 years after the events, the Home Secretary still refuses to release the official government papers in order to cover up the involvement of undercover police and the security services in the 1972 building workers strike and the Shrewsbury trial. Ricky shared the platform with ‘Lisa’, a female activist who had a long term relationship with the undercover police officer Mark Kennedy, Duwayne Brooks, friend of Stephen Lawrence and witness at his murder and lawyer Tamsin Allen. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2016/oct/05/duwayne-brooks-ricky-tomlinson-and-lisa-jones-to-tell-how-police-spied-on-them
https://onesmallwindow.wordpress.com/2016/10/11/spy-cops-watching-me-watching-you/
https://theferret.scot/review-of-secret-police-condemned-as-an-insult-and-whitewash/
Baroness Jenny Jones put down a question in the House of Lords on Monday after consultation with me & Phil and relating to the whole police spying on trade unions issue. Below:
“To ask Her Majesty’s Government, what plans they have to strengthen provisions in the Investigatory Powers Bill to give sufficient protection to data relating to trade union and political activities?”
Unsurprisingly, the Tory government are not intending to make any changes.
Details of funeral
11am Friday 21st October 2016
St. Marylebone Crematorium
East End Road
Finchley
N2 0RZ
Wake:
The Boston Arms
178 Junction Road
N19 5QQ
Message from Construction Safety Campaign:
Andy Higgins died on 17th September age 86.
Andy Higgins member of UCATT, previously a member of its London regional council and branch secretary. He dedicated his life to fighting for all those whom faced oppression. Having left Ireland to come to Britain at the age of 17. He went on to become a Carpenter Joiner working in many parts of the country. Andy alongside other Irish construction workers were in their
early years very involved with the Construction Safety Campaign (CSC) and also involved in the 1960-70s civil rights movement carried out by Connolly Association in the UK. Andy was one of the leading campaigners that successfully exposed the establishment lies which led to the Birmingham Six convictions being overturned and them being released from prison. From the
1960s up to before his death he continued to be involved in all the major worker’s battles, in particular the 1972 Building Workers Strike. Andy was also a great singer and dancer. In 1988 when the Construction Safety Campaign was founded he became its National Treasurer and held this position up until early this year. He didn’t just do the important paperwork needed as treasurer as he was a major figure in galvanizing construction workers to support all our activities. He was a very important part of what the CSC achieved.
Condolences go to Teresa Andy’s wife and family.
In preference to floral tributes Andy would have appreciated a donation to The Morning Star or The Construction Safety Campaign.
GMB Justice conference Liverpool, Institute of Employment Rights Liverpool, North West Labour Film Festival Liverpool and Orgreave Truth & Justice confernce
Roy Bentham, Tony Sweeney and Dave Smith representing
https://www.facebook.com/GMBNWItradeunion/
http://www.ier.org.uk/events/health-and-safety-update-2016-liverpool
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/orgreave-campaigners-to-hold-sheffield-conference-1-8147451
https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/NWFF16_Postcard_A6_310816_v2_WR.pdf
Thank You to UNITE Liverpool Construction branch, UNITE Middlesborough construction branch, NW&I region GMB for purchasing bulk orders 50 copies each of the updated edition of Blacklisted book.
Bulk orders of the book for union branches receive a reduced rate and are available directly from the publishers: Dan at New Internationalist danrb@newint.org
Sat 15th Oct – CWU Youth event – Sheffield
Sat 15th Oct – Lucy Parker at Equity – The Old Vic, London https://vimeo.com/177553232
Tues 18th Oct – Institute of Employment Rights – London
Sat 29th October – The new ‘Blacklisted’ film at the London Anarchist Bookfair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8
Jeremy Corbyn states support for full inquiries into justice campaigns including blacklisting, Orgreave and Shrewsbury in his keynote speech.
John McDonnell co-founder of the BSG attended the Liverpool v Hull match where a banner was unfurled on behalf of those justice campaigns with our collective support being reaffirmed for Corbyn after his reelection as leader of the Party
http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2016-09-24/fans-to-unfurl-corbyn-banner-on-the-kop/
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
“The biggest difficulty we faced with the blacklisting and the undercover police campaigns, is that people think we live in a liberal democracy and things like that don’t happen here”
So said John McDonnell, shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his keynote speech at the opening plenary of the Blacklisting, Bullying & Blowing the Whistle conference at the University of Greenwich co-hosted by Blacklist Support Group (BSG) and the Work & Employment Research Unit (WERU) last weekend.
The aim of the conference supported by New Internationalist and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, was to expose the hidden underbelly of the modern workplace, where intrusive surveillance of workers is common and victimization of those prepared to stand up for their rights is widespread (but virtually ignored by the mainstream media). We certainly achieved that, with reports about the conference appearing in the press before, during and after the event.
The 4 core themes of the conference were: Blacklisting – Bullying – Whistleblowing – Police Surveillance
But the event was not just a conference, it was a book launch, a film premier and an art exhibition.
Speakers included: John McDonnell but also legal experts including; John Hendy QC, David Renton and Declan Owens, trade union leaders such as NUJ General Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet and ASGs; Gail,Cartmail (UNITE), Roger McKenzie (UNISON), Amanda Brown (NUT). Some of the UK’s leading academics in the field of work and whistleblowing were also in attendance such as Prof. Sian Moore, Prof. Keith Ewing, Prof. Phil Taylor, Prof. David Lewis, Dr Jack Fawbert and Dr Wim Vandekerckhove.
But it was the inclusion of activists on the panels that gave the conference its unique insight to the realities of the modern workplace and the weekend’s unique feel. From Roy Bentham and Dave Smith from the Blacklist Support Group, to Eileen Chubb and Dr Minh Alexander among many victimised whistleblowers speaking, plus Lee Jasper and Suresh Grover representing Black and Asian communities suffering under the austerity cuts and because of state surveillance.
Friday evening saw the film premier of the new ‘Blacklisted’ documentary by director Tom Wood (via Reel News) and the book launch of ‘Blacklisted: the secret war between big business and union activists’ by Dave Smith & Phil Chamberlain published by New Internationalist.
The biggest news story of the weekend and the most memorable session in the conference related to undercover police surveillance of activists. The police spy known as ‘Carlo Neri’ was accused of inciting anti-racist campaigners to firebomb a charity that he claimed was run by an Italian fascist. This allegation appeared in the ‘Blacklisted’ book launched at the conference and made the national press. ‘Andrea’, the female activist who was deceived into a long term relationship with the undercover officer spoke in public for the very first time at the spycops plenary session at the conference, which was chaired by the BSG and Police Spies Out of Lives spokesperson, Helen Steel. Andrea’s emotional testimony was the most memorable part of the weekend.
McDonnell told the delegates to the conference “You tell us what you want a Corbyn Labour government to introduce, and I will make sure it gets discussed at the highest level”. We intend to do just that.
Below are just a few of the press and photo-journalism reports generated by from the conference:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f39f-I-was-just-used-to-infilitrate-unions#.V9_ppU1OXcs
http://shopstewards.net/2016/09/nssn-309-blacklisted-watch-the-film-read-the-book/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60718029@N06/sets/72157672827306410
http://shopstewards.net/2016/09/nssn-309-blacklisted-watch-the-film-read-the-book/
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/23602/21-09-2016/film-review-blacklisted
BSG would like to say a ‘massive thank you’ to everyone who helped make the event possible. From the speakers, the University of Greenwich events staff, the artists and musicians.
Blacklist Support Group
book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70
blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
Blacklist Support Group is honoured to be co-hosting a major employment rights conference at the University of Greenwich. The conference is FREE but as numbers are limited and John McDonnell is a keynote speaker, registration is essential.
Blacklisting, Bullying & Blowing the Whistle
16-17 September 2016
University of Greenwich
http://www.gre.ac.uk/business/services/events/events/current/BlacklistingBullyingBlowingtheWhistle
This two day conference, organised by Blacklist Support Group (BSG) and the Work & Employment Research Unit (WERU) at the University of Greenwich supported by New Internatinalist and Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, will reveal and discuss the hidden injuries of the modern workplace which are often neglected by mainstream media and academia.
Plenary sessions and workshops will consider the blacklisting and victimisation of activists and the treatment of whistleblowers, who have both highlighted corporate malpractice in the private sector and failures in public service provision. They will also consider the modern workplace tyranny of performance management where workers are bullied by intense monitoring and measurement of their work, with potentially discriminatory effects on disabled, Black and Minority Ethnic, migrant, women and older and younger workers.
A key aim will be to explore the different and interlocking ways in which surveillance and intensified control operate; in the workplace, in employment and in relation to community campaigns and civil rights activism.
The conference brings together academics, politicians, lawyers and activists with a view to inputting into the formulation of a programme of policy and action that can restore workplace rights and fairness at work.
Speakers include:
Alongside the conference there will be the premier of a brand new documentary ‘Blacklisted’ by the film producer Thomas Wood, an exhibition of artwork supporting the campaign coordinated by Art Against Blacklisting and a party on Friday evening. The conference will also host the Blacklist Support Group AGM.
This event is ideal for union officials, activists and TUC Diploma courses. Spread the word and hope to see you there.
Blacklist Support Group
book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70
blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
John McDonnell is just one of many high profile speakers confirmed to speak at the ‘Blacklisting, Bullying & Blowing the Whistle’ conference at University of Greenwich on 16-17 September.
This conference is co-hosted by the Blacklist Support Group (BSG) and the Work & Employment Rights Unit (WERU) set to expose the hidden underbelly of the modern workplace often ignored by the mainstream media and academia. The conference is FREE to delegates and is ideal for union members, students, lawyers, journalists and TUC diploma courses – in fact anyone with an interest in improving employment rights for working people.
The conference is smack in the middle of TUC & Labour Party conference and just days before the close of the Labour Party leadership election closes and is bound to attract media coverage.
Runing alongside the conference is supporting artwork by a number of contemporary artists and photographers, coordinated by Art Against Blacklisting
Booking is strongly recommended. Please circulate to your mailing lists.
http://www.gre.ac.uk/business/services/events/events/current/BlacklistingBullyingBlowingtheWhistle