Thursday 13 October 2016

DCI Gordon Mills Sues GMB Union

Blacklist News:

1. Compensation is not the same as Justice

2. DCI Gordon Mills sues GMB
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!  

3. Ricky Tomlinson at COPS meeting 
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

4. COPS Scotland launched

5. House of Lords 
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. 

6. Police spying on unions during News International dispute

7. Andy Higgins R.I.P.
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.

8. Thanks for the invites:
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 

9. Blacklisted book
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

10. Blacklisting coming up soon at:
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

11. Labour Party Conference in Liverpool
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

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