An alliance of people spied on by Britain's political secret police
More than 3,000 people had files on the illegal construction industry blacklist run by the Consulting Association when it was seized in 2009. Most major construction firms used the list yet none have faced any penalty.
The personal files contained information on political activity that came from police. This wasn’t police upholding the law, it was police breaking the law to uphold corporate profit.
Numerous blacklisted workers and activists have been granted core participant status at the public inquiry into undercover policing.
The practice of blacklisting did not end with the closure of the Consulting Association’s list. Blacklisting of construction workers has long been a curse of the industry and in recent years the ‘dirty dealings’ of leading companies through their undercover Consulting Agency has been widely exposed and they have condemned in the courts. But the issue is much more widespread and the battle between big business and union activists is still to be won.
This first North East conference is organised by Tyne & Wear CATUC and the Construction Safety Campaign, and sponsored by Unite North East, Yorkshire and Humberside Region.
Speakers include Dave Smith, co-author of ‘Blacklisted‘, and Kate Parker, director of a film looking at the wider implications.
Free entry, although booking tickets is advisable. Refreshments and lunch provided.
For further information or to register please contact twcatuc@aol.co.uk
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