Guildhall ‘Blacklisting’ Protest Held

A protest against ‘blacklisting’ took place outside the Guildhall this afternoon before the Council’s monthly main Executive Board meeting where the issue was raised.

Earlier this year we reported how an investigation by the GMB into the construction industry revealed at least 111 workers from Wales on an illegal ‘blacklist’ of employees that belonged to a trade union. The list was being used by some construction firms to prevent them from getting work.

It is believed 39 of those workers were from North Wales, with the majority unaware their personal data was being collated and used against them.

Cllr Arfon Jones asked the Council meeting “Will Wrexham Council as a responsible employer ensure that any future contracts are not awarded to firms that engage in ‘blacklisting’ of union members?”

The reply was live-tweeted via our meeting coverage:

Blacklisting Q asking if Council will avoid such Co's, 'care will be taken to ensure future contracts will comply with the law at that time'

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) July 9, 2013

Wrexham Council contract Enterprise to carry out highway maintenance work. Amery, who are owned by Ferrovial, own Enterprise. Currently Ferrovial are in a dispute with Unite the Union over blacklisting. The BBC ‘Panorama’ edition ‘Blaclist Britain’ was used as a reference, and the programme can be watched here on the BBC iPlayer.

Not all were happy with the protest with one replying to @wrexham saying:

Unite protesters outside @wrexham council. Spoiling a peaceful lunch on Llwyn Isaf. pic.twitter.com/CJ8DWXUGI5

— Caz (@moonshine17) July 9, 2013