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Findlay tables motion to recognise ‘historic progression’ made in fight against blacklisting

LABOUR MSP Neil Findlay has tabled a motion in Holyrood to welcome the “historic progression” made in the fight against the blacklisting of trade unionists.

Mr Findlay asked yesterday that the Scottish Parliament recognise the recent Creedon report, noting that the blacklisting of union activists has “destroyed lives, families and reputations for decades.”

It also congratulates anti-blacklisting campaigners and trade unionists for fighting for the workers who were persecuted for being union members.

Mr Findlay told the Star: “We know that thousands of lives were affected, some destroyed, by the active conspiracy involving some of the biggest construction companies in the country.

“And yet, to date, no-one has been held to account in a court of law.

“On the 10th anniversary of the blacklist being exposed, this surely must be the next step.”

The Creedon report into Operation Reuben was released to the Blacklist Support Group yesterday.

The document proved that police shared information with blacklisting companies on various trade unionists in an attempt to keep them out of work.

The list was compiled by the Consulting Association and the Economic League, two notorious companies that were directly funded by construction industry giants such as Carillion, McAlpine and Skanska to spy on union members.

The report also found that Special Branch officers had direct connections with these bodies in practically every single industry.

It also admitted that notorious “spycops” such as Mark Kennedy were involved in infiltrating unions in order to provide names to construction employers, with Mr Kennedy becoming active in construction union Ucatt in order to provide details on around 300 workers.

The document was released on the 10th anniversary of police raiding the offices of the Consulting Association in Droitwich.

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