Electricians demand action on blacklisting

Site electricians are calling for a union boycott of Joint Industry Board (JIB) members of the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) in a row over the blacklisting of trade union activists.

The demand has come from at least eight branches of the Unite union, including both the Amicus section and EPIU electricians in the TGWU section.

Steve Acheson, secretary of the TGWU's Manchester contracting branch, has written to general secretary Tony Woodley informing him of the branch's decision to sever all ties until blacklisting is eradicated and companies adhere to the national agreement's terms on direct employment.

Similar resolutions were carried by Unite branches in Liverpool, Wigan, Wirral and Merseyside and Heathrow.

The move follows a long-running dispute over allegations of electricians being dismissed from the Manchester Royal Infirmary site on the basis of an illegal blacklist of union activists.

An employment tribunal subsequently heard sworn evidence from a former manager confirming the existence of an industry blacklist. Alan Wainwright, who had held senior labour management positions with Carillion, Drake and Scull, and Balfour Beatty said: "I believe that certain UK construction companies and their mechanical and electrical subsidiaries operate a blacklist procedure to ensure certain electrical operatives do not gain employment on their projects. This is based on procedures I have undertaken in the workplace and information that has come to my direct attention."

Discontent has also been fuelled by the recent national pay negotiations, where a three-year settlement was reached after the terms had been rejected in a national ballot.