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From The Socialist newspaper, 16 September 2009
The fight against the building blacklist
Construction workers in the greater Manchester area have launched a campaign against blacklisting in the industry.
There was a protest of 20 construction workers at the gates of "the rock triangle" development site in Bury, Lancashire, in August. The Rock is a massive project employing hundreds of people. Yet, there is no effective trade union representation on site.
The main contractor is Laing O'Rourke who appointed N.G Bailey to do the electrical work. Both companies were subscribers to the anti trade union blacklist operated by private detective Ian Kerr on behalf of many UK construction companies. (See previous coverage in The Socialist.)
The blacklisting scandal has been exposed. But the Bury council chief executive failed to respond to demands by the local Unite branch for a guarantee that there would be no blacklisting on the rock.
Steve Acheson, himself a blacklisted electrician for ten years, told The Socialist: "Blacklisting puts enormous psychological pressure on the victimised workers and their families. Not only are you being put out of work, but you are deliberately not given any work. This can bring entire families to breaking point.
"Unite should use its resources to build trade union organisation on sites and give support to all victimised trade unionists. This way, confidence can be built amongst workers to fight back against the bosses' offensive."
Christian Bunke
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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In The Socialist 16 September 2009:
Big business to blame for climate change
No Job Cuts
No to cuts in jobs and services
Capitalist market prescribes diet of cuts
TUC conference - reactions to Brown's speech
TUC conference: Fightback rally
War and occupation
Socialist Party workplace news
Nationalise Anglesey Aluminium to save jobs
Rover - Gangster capitalists were treated as saviours
London RMT: Discussing an election coalition
Leeds council workers on indefinite strike
Construction workers' pay - reject the deal!
The fight against the building blacklist
Socialist Students
College workers strike against vicious cuts
Vestas
Vestas: the fight is far from over
Coventry Socialist Party councillors show support for Vestas
Socialist Party feature
Interview with POA leader Brian Caton
Socialist Party women
Victory - Decent jobs not exploitation
Socialist Party review
International socialist news and analysis
Japan: Election ends Liberal Democrats' 54-year reign
Bangladesh: Angry protests at police attacks
Sri Lanka: Defiant Tamil protest
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