1. Islington Council boot out Kier from housing contract because of blacklisting - well done Cllr Gary Doolan and Chris Clarke for representing:
http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/islington-housing-move-will-help-clean-up-construction-says-unite/
Cambridge City Council also voted
to ban blacklisting firms from contracts last week - well done Cllr Sue Birtles
for moving the resolution:
2. Compensation
Scheme:
Only 60 people have even bothered to request
a form from the bosses blacklist compensation scheme. Lets hope the number stays
low - the wretches are trying to buy people off with a few quid to avoid the
public humiliation of a High Court trial and the larger compensation payments
that will be imposed when they are found guilty. At present the entire payouts
in the compensation scheme are based upon a minor breach of the Data Protection
Act. As the High Court trial progresses and seperate Human Rights claims are
won, the compensation payments are almost certainly going to increase. Blacklist
Support Group suggest that everyone boycotts the bosses scheme and holds tight
until proper figures are agreed that genuinely compensate for years of financial
hardship, hurt to feelings and human rights violations. Anyone accepting a few
pounds now could be seriously selling themselves short. MPs at the Select
Committee were scathing about the compensation scheme (see below)
Most importantly, what the bosses scheme
fails to offer are jobs for blacklisted workers. Even if someone accepts a few
pounds compensation, if they can never work on a major project in the industry
again, then there is no real justice. We want compensation for everyone on the
blacklist and a positive action jobs scheme including retraining packages for
those struggling to find work.
3. Select Committee investigation
into blacklisting - press coverage:
Full video footage of the
blacklist bosses woeful evidence session at the Select Committee: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=15832
4. Public Inquiry on blacklisting
- press coverage
Cameron says 'NO'
Labour Policy Forum says
'YES'
The Labour Party national
policy forum has agreed the following wording on blacklisting:
“If the current
Government will not launch a full inquiry into the disgraceful practice of
blacklisting in the construction industry the next Labour Government will. This
inquiry will be transparent and public to ensure the truth is set
out.”
Blacklist Support Group
issued the following statement:
"The Labour Party
pledge to hold a ""transparent and public" inquiry into blacklisting should be
applauded by everyone fighting for justice on this human rights
conspiracy.
We have been calling for this for
many years - Fair play to them. A big thank you to all those who worked
tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen".
There is still an urgent need to
apply pressure on the Labour Party to make sure an unequivocal commitment to a
fully independent Leveson style public inquiry on blacklisting appears in the
General Election manifesto. The continued revelations in the media about
undercover police officers spying on grieving families of murder victims and
peaceful democratic activists make a public inquiry even more important.
If any group is organising a
fringe meeting at TUC or Labour Party conferences in September, Blacklist
Support Group would be very happy to supply a speaker if any slots are
available.
5. Government Carr Inquiry into
trade union leverage campaigns decides no case to answer
6. Construction Rank & File
national meeting
Saturday 9th August
12-3pm
Conway Hall
Red Lion Square
London
(Nearest tube:
Holborn)
Discussing
blacklisting, umbrella scams, JIB pay dispute, deskilling - Good luck to all
those in attendance
7. Blacklisting is
a global phenomenon - International Union Rights magazine special edition on
blacklisting
Full magazine now available: http://www.ictur.org/pdf/IUR211.pdf
Please support the work of ICTUR
by ordering copies of their magazine by contacting ictur@ictur.org
8. Requests from film-makers
& journalists
Lucy Parker is a film maker and
particularly interested in talking to women on the blacklist or wives / partners
of blacklisted building workers: lucy.c.parker@googlemail.com
Drew Natterjack is a journalist
looking to talk to people from the Bristol area who were
blacklisted: peopleshistory@thebristolcable.org
Keep the faith
Dave
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