Explosive new book Blacklisted launches at Houses of Parliament

Blacklisted Launch © Sleeves Rolled Up
Last Thursday, Theresa May announced a public inquiry into undercover police
spying on peaceful protest campaigns and bereaved parents of murder
victims. This came on the same day as the publication of an important
new book called Blacklisted: The Secret War Between Big Business and
Union Activists, written by Dave Smith and Phil Chamberlain
and published by New Internationalist.
The book, exposing the illegal blacklisting scandal orchestrated by the
largest transnational construction companies in Britain including
McAlpine, Carillion, Costain, Balfour Beatty, Skanska and Kier,
provides previously unseen documentary evidence about the role of
undercover police spying units in colluding with the blacklisting
conspiracy.
Speaking of the book, co-author and Blacklisted worker Dave Smith said: 'There are secret political police in the UK; they are called Special
Branch, MI5, GCHQ, NETCU and SDS. These coercive arms of the state see
their role as supporting big business against anyone who may threaten
their profits. Trade unions and peaceful campaign groups are viewed as
the enemy.
'Undercover police infiltration of justice campaigns set up by bereaved
relatives, anti-racist and environmental groups and trade unions is an
affront to democracy - it is essential that this is part of the remit of
the public inquiry announced by Theresa May. Blacklisted workers should
be consulted before the inquiry starts.
'Blacklisting is no longer an industrial relations issue: it is a
conspiracy orchestrated by directors of multinational companies and the
security services against trade unions. Blacklisting is not just in
construction, it is endemic across UK industry from NHS whistleblowers,
airlines, North Sea, retail and railways. We now know that the fire
brigades' union, UNISON, CWU and NUT were also targets of this national
scandal. The full extent of the corporate and police spying against
trade unions demands that blacklisting is given a full standalone public
inquiry of its own.'
A statement from Peter Francis former SDS undercover police spy and now
police whistleblower was read out. In it he said: 'I would like to take
this opportunity to unreservedly apologize to all the union members I
personally spied upon and reported back on whilst deployed undercover in
the SDS, including those not only engaged in working in the construction
industry but also those in the National Union of Students (NUS),
National Union of Teachers (NUT), Communication Workers' Union (CWU),
UNISON and the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU).
'I am prepared to repeat all of this under oath at the public inquiry
and should UCATT or any other union or the blacklisted campaigners wish
me to, in any court cases they might bring against the relevant UK
authorities.
'This remarkable, well-researched and must-read book clearly shows how
police spying on political activists has destroyed lives and that I,
most unfortunately and regrettably, played a part in this.'
At last weeks's launch John McDonnell MP highlighted the 'heroic
campaign' undertaken by all those involved with the book, stating that
Blacklisted will help 'right some of the wrongs' individuals fighting
for justice have faced for many years. He also highlighted the
important role New Internationalist had played in bringing the book to
publication, citing the reluctance of other publishers approached to
take on the project for fear of legal action.
Journalist and co-author Phil Chamberlain said: 'They tried to tell us that
blacklisting didn't happen. They said there was no evidence. They
said nothing could be changed. Drawing upon years of research and
hundreds of interviews we demonstrate a failure at every turn by
the state to act upon this scandal. And the reason is not
incompetence but collusion. But we also show how an alliance of those affected brought this
scandal out of the shadows. A full public inquiry is needed to
ensure that justice is done.'
Dave Smith concluded: 'Blacklisted is very much a team effort. It is
the fruit of a campaign for justice involving investigative journalists,
unions, politicians, lawyers and activists, but above all blacklisted
workers themselves. Blacklisted is not just a book, it is a political
hand grenade that will blow the scandal wide open. It is part of the
ongoing fight for justice.'
To interview the authors, receive a review copy of Blacklisted,
or for more information, please contact:
Kate Shepherd
The Oxford Publicity Partnership Ltd
2 Lucas Bridge Business Park
Old Greens Norton Road
Towcester, NN12 8AX, UK
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44(0)1327 357770
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