Construction workers protesting against the "blacklist" - used to punish workers in the industry for raising trade union or health and safety issues - shut the power station site at Carrington, Greater Manchester, on 17 November.

Daz Muir and Neil Banks are being blacklisted and refused employment on this site.

Daz is a rigger who was unfairly dismissed from the Runcorn thermal power station project for voicing his opinion at a mass meeting during a health and safety dispute on the site.

Neil is an electrician who was working at Carrington, but shortly after being transferred to another job he was sacked because of complaining about a health and safety issue. Neil has tried to get back on to Carrington but is being totally blocked.

Protesting workers blocked the gate to the Carrington site and stopped the first coach. Some workers got off and joined the picket; others assembled at the gate before the first coach arrived.

One coach returned to the car park, all the other coaches were cancelled and workers were held at the car park. The union conveners were stuck in traffic and so it was agreed the workers would disperse for the day.

There is a strong suspicion that some union officials are still complicit in blacklisting union members. The attitude of some seems to be: keep your mouth shut and toe the line or you will not work again. If they do not have the stomach for the fight then the Rank and File [a network of fighting construction activists] must do it ourselves.

Further protests will take place if Daz and Neil are not swiftly employed. The fight starts here!

The Ucatt and Unite unions are holding a lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 26 November from 12.45pm over the use of 'umbrella' companies by construction firms which exploit workers by ignoring national employment agreements. The lobby will be held at committee room 14, Parliament, Westminster SW1A 0AA.

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