Blacklisting still going on

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail led calls at the TUC conference today (September 13) for tougher laws and a full public inquiry into blacklisting.

Addressing conference in support of motion 22 on surveillance and blacklisting Gail Cartmail warned that it would be naïve to think that the construction industry had been ‘cleansed’ of the shameful and destructive practice of blacklisting.

Backing calls for a TUC day of action on blacklisting Gail Cartmail said, “Unite, along with sister unions and the Blacklist Support Group have campaigned for better and tougher laws on blacklisting winning the support of politicians in Westminster, Holyrood, the Welsh Assembly and councils the length and breadth of the UK.

“This year finally conspirators were dragged to the High Court of Justice and hundreds of trade union members won financial compensation,” she added. “The contractors say they are sorry but to this day they still shy away from the term ‘blacklisting’ and still the law intended to protect workers is too weak and woefully inadequate.

“We demand better law and a full public inquiry into blacklisting.”

Warning against complacency Gail Cartmail added, “Since the 2009 expose, Unite fought the gang of seven contractors who put £25 million aside to usurp the national agreement with BESNA.

“During that campaign we returned to work a blacklisted worker. It would be naïve to think that the industry is cleansed of the shameful and destructive practice of blacklisting.

“In all of our campaigns our activists on the front line know their actions are watched and ‘noted’,” she added. “To those doing the watching Unite will not stand by and allow hard-working men and women suffer at the hands of the blacklisters.

“We will fight using political, legal and crucially industrial tactics.”