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<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>A think tank for the labour movement<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
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<h4 style='background:white'><b><font size=3 color="#73110e" face=Verdana><span
lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#73110E'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></h4>
<p style='background:white'><font size=2 color="#73110e" face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#73110E'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:white'><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white'><b><font size=4
color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:#464646;font-weight:bold'>Ruined Lives: Blacklisting in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> Construction
Industry <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=241 height=340
src="cid:image009.gif@01CA4674.CD5F5C90" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1039"><![endif]><font
color="#73110e" face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:#73110E'> <span
lang=EN>The following article by <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Keith Ewing</st1:PersonName>,
summarises the main findings of a report, commissioned from IER by <a
href="http://www.ucatt.info/content/view/760/30/">UCATT</a>. The article was
first reported in the <a
href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/features/Scourge-of-trade-unionist-blacklisting">Morning
Star</a> on 6<sup>th</sup> October 2009. Copies of the report are available to
buy from <a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/419">IER</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>“Like thousands of people up and down the country,
Dave Smith is an active trade unionist. Unknown to him, his name appeared on an
unlawful secret blacklist created by "private investigator" Ian Kerr.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Through an agency known as the Consulting Association,
Kerr kept a file of personal information and newspaper cuttings, with the
details being supplied in part by a number of well-known construction
companies. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>The Consulting Association held information about
Smith's date of birth, his national insurance number, his address and phone
number, his car and its registration number, along with his occupation and two
pages of other information relating to his employment history taken from his
own CV. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>There was also detailed information about disputes and
other activities in which Smith had been involved. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>The data ran to 18 pages and spanned a period from 1992
to 2005. It included details about Smith's political views, about industrial
tribunal cases in which he had been involved and about his work in upholding
health and safety standards in the construction industry. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>It was clear that the blacklister had scoured labour
movement and construction industry publications and used company insiders to
compile the dossier. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Smith was one of 3,000 people on the Consulting
Association's blacklist. Many of those on the database found themselves unable
to find work, even when the economy was booming. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>They suffered simply because they had stood up for their
workmates and insisted that their employers follow proper health and safety
standards. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Although Kerr has been convicted, no prosecutions have
been brought against any of the companies he fed information to. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Construction union UCATT has made addressing this
scandal a priority and many workers are now taking legal action against firms
that they believe may have victimised them because of their union activities or
because they may have processed sensitive personal data without their consent. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>While some of these cases could succeed, others are
likely to run into formidable practical problems in proving victimisation or
demonstrating that a loss had been suffered as a result. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>There are major human rights issues here. Blacklisting
is a clear breach of ILO Convention 98 - a fundamental international treaty.
And it would almost certainly be of concern to the European Court of Human
Rights, which has now found its voice in protecting trade union rights. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>It is hard to think of a more flagrant breach of rights
than the trade in information, over a period of 40 years in some cases, about
an individual's status as a trade unionist and any activity on their union's
behalf. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>The government has now issued a consultation document
with a view to implementing legislation to stamp out this practice, which is as
old as trade unionism itself. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>But this belated gesture - to implement a power first
contained in the Employment Relations Act 1999 - does not go nearly far enough.
Blacklisted workers might also want to know why their files were shown to the
Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Any regulations introduced by the government must
provide a retroactive compensation scheme for the people on the Consulting
Association's blacklist, funded by a special levy imposed on companies known to
have used the lists. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>The law must clearly lay down that keeping and using
blacklists is a criminal offence. Anyone appearing on a blacklist should be
entitled to a minimum award of compensation without the need to establish loss
but with compensation being increased where loss is established. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>And the banning of blacklists should clearly apply to
all activities associated with trade unionism, including organising and
participating in industrial action, as well as any convictions which arise as a
result. There should be no blacklisting on political grounds. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>If, as is likely, the government produces a fudged
consultation response, workers will need to apply to the European Court of
Human Rights, following the successful example of trade unionists such as David
Wilson of the NUJ and trade unions such as ASLEF, which took on the government
over the BNP. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>There should be no argument - being blacklisted is a
violation of internationally protected human rights, running a blacklist should
be an offence and being blacklisted should be enough to establish a right to
compensation”. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:135.0pt;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:13.5pt;background:white'><st1:PersonName
w:st="on"><b><i><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#464646;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Keith Ewing</span></font></i></b></st1:PersonName><b><i><font
size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> is professor of
public law at King's College London and President of the Institute of
Employment Rights.</span></font></i></b><font size=1 color="#464646"
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:14.4pt;background:white'><font size=2 color="#73110e" face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#73110E'>If you would
like to assist us in our work – <a
href="http://www.ier.org.uk/system/files/Subs+Form+08.pdf">join us</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:14.4pt;background:white'><font size=2 color="#73110e" face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#73110E'>Carolyn Jones </span></font><font
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:14.4pt;background:white'><font size=2 color="#73110e" face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#73110E'>Director<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:14.4pt;background:white'><font size=2 color="#73110e" face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#73110E'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:14.4pt;background:white'><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR>
Checked by AVG.<BR>
Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.1/1734 - Release Date: 20/10/2008 07:25<BR>
</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> </FONT> </P>