Blacklist that tears lives apart

MANY people living in Warrington have been discriminated against as a result of “blacklists” in the construction industry, Town Hall chiefs believe.
A motion is to be put to the borough council tonight (Monday) condemning the practice of blacklisting and affirming the council’s opposition to it.
The motion will be proposed by council leader Terry O’Neill (pictured) and seconded by his deputy Mike Hanno n.
It notes that a number of construction industry companies have been challenged about supporting the existence of and subscribing to blacklists which detail covertly gathered information on trade unionism within the construction industry.
Cllr O’Neill said: “The council understands these lists were collated by the Consulting Association and then provided, at a cost, to construction companies as they sought to recruit new workers.
“The council publicly affirms its opposition to ‘blacklisting’. an illegal practice that victimises workers on the grounds of trade union membership and legitimate activity.
“Blacklisting tears apart the lives of ordinary people who have often done nothing more than raise health and safety concerns with their employer.
“The council believes this is an unacceptable practice and cannot be condoned and that many residents living in Warrington have been discriminated against because of this activities.”

sizewise on 25th June 2013 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

If malcolm groarke bothered to check his facts before spouting off, he’d discover that Helen Jones MP HAS supported the very people affected by blacklisting. It’s a shame that malcolm doesn’t bother to keep up with current events because, if he did, he’d know that she supported a motion in Parliament back in January this year against blacklisting…. six months BEFORE the Council put this issue forward.

The motion in Parliament said:

“That this House notes that in 2009 the Information Commissioner’s Office raided the Consultation Association which revealed a blacklist and files on more than 3,000 individuals which had been used by more than 40 construction companies to vet individuals and deny people employment for reasons including being a member of a trade union or having raised health and safety concerns and that extensive personal information on individuals and their families was held; recognises that the majority of individuals have still not been informed that they were on the blacklist nor given the opportunity to seek redress, despite recent confirmation that blacklisting checks took place on Olympic construction sites and allegations that the practice took place on public projects including Ministry of Defence sites, Portcullis House and Crossrail; further notes that at recent Scottish Affairs Select Committee hearings on blacklisting the Information Commissioner Investigations Manager raised concerns that there may have been collusion by police officers and security services in the compilation of blacklists; and in addition that it was also alleged at the hearings that a blacklist of environmental activists was compiled; and calls on the Government to immediately begin an investigation into the extent to which blacklisting took place and may be taking place, including on public sector projects, and to ensure that appropriate and effective sanctions are in place to tackle and prevent blacklisting.”

Good to see the Council have caught up with the issue six months late, eh Malcolm? 😉

6 Comments

malcolm groarke on 24th June 2013 6:31 pm 6:31 pm

This practice was not confined to the sixties, My grandgfather was local convener to the plumbers trade union before the second world war having negotiated with employers to bring Warrington plumbers in line with surrounding areas he was blacked in Warrington having to obtain work in Liverpool.

My father, a bricklayer having finishing his apprentiship, was another one who on reaching 21 was dismissed having to obtain work out of town

Warrington was influenced upto the seventies with a group of business people who went under the name of the ‘economic leave’ who had offices in Wilson Patten St. Anyone who was described as an activist was blacked. Some of the most influential business owners were involved in this distasteful practice.

Pity its taken all this time for such practices to be condemned. Havn’t hearf of Helen Jones M.P. giving her support to the two party leaders though. Whats up with that woman pretends to support working people but gets funding from at least two unions including Unison

zippybungle on 24th June 2013 8:32 pm 8:32 pm

Good on the Council for putting this forward. Blacklisting is a disgrace.

sizewise on 25th June 2013 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

If malcolm groarke bothered to check his facts before spouting off, he’d discover that Helen Jones MP HAS supported the very people affected by blacklisting. It’s a shame that malcolm doesn’t bother to keep up with current events because, if he did, he’d know that she supported a motion in Parliament back in January this year against blacklisting…. six months BEFORE the Council put this issue forward.

The motion in Parliament said:

“That this House notes that in 2009 the Information Commissioner’s Office raided the Consultation Association which revealed a blacklist and files on more than 3,000 individuals which had been used by more than 40 construction companies to vet individuals and deny people employment for reasons including being a member of a trade union or having raised health and safety concerns and that extensive personal information on individuals and their families was held; recognises that the majority of individuals have still not been informed that they were on the blacklist nor given the opportunity to seek redress, despite recent confirmation that blacklisting checks took place on Olympic construction sites and allegations that the practice took place on public projects including Ministry of Defence sites, Portcullis House and Crossrail; further notes that at recent Scottish Affairs Select Committee hearings on blacklisting the Information Commissioner Investigations Manager raised concerns that there may have been collusion by police officers and security services in the compilation of blacklists; and in addition that it was also alleged at the hearings that a blacklist of environmental activists was compiled; and calls on the Government to immediately begin an investigation into the extent to which blacklisting took place and may be taking place, including on public sector projects, and to ensure that appropriate and effective sanctions are in place to tackle and prevent blacklisting.”

Good to see the Council have caught up with the issue six months late, eh Malcolm? 😉

youthinkwerestupid on 26th June 2013 9:00 am 9:00 am

Thats a lot of info that took a very long time to research or else you knew already, perhaps your related to Helen Jones? why not say so as malcolm is happy to say who he is

sizewise on 26th June 2013 11:09 am 11:09 am

Not really ‘a lot of info’ or anything I knew already. A quick search for what Helen Jones has voted on in Parliament (easily available) came up with the answer in about 2 minutes. Hardly ‘a lot’ of research!

I think you are missing the point of my post though. Regardless of how long it did or didn’t take to find, I was correcting the inaccuracies of malcolm’s post.

You’re questioning my right to use a nom de plume when you use one yourself?

briangraney on 26th June 2013 1:39 pm 1:39 pm

No problme for me is that better and will you follow? As for voting I didnt find anything on the voting record at publicwhip.org.uk or any record of a vote in hansard so please can you give your source? Even if it did happen Malcolms point was about a campaign on blacklisting or supporting the council motion not sticking your hand up in a vote. My calendar also shows that January to June is 5 months!