BNP targets construction

Construction sites could soon become hotbeds of racist abuse and violence due to an increased number of British National Party (BNP) members joining unions.

In one discussion group at the TUC's Brighton conference last week, union officials agreed that there was a worrying number of BNP members looking to push racist views towards co-workers and that union membership should be more closely vetted.

"The situation is becoming quite serious," the TGWU's national secretary Bob Blackman told CJ. "It is already a major issue in the rail industry between train drivers. We are hearing of workers being victimised and pushed out of jobs through abuse. There are now signs of this happening in construction and the situation will only get worse unless it is tackled early enough."

Blackman said the exact number of BNP members with TGWU membership is unknown, although the union is due to carry out an investigation into the situation.