GMB Magazine GMB25 Centre Point Summer 2016 | Page 13

TOTAL 116 GMB members
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Who has been compensated ?

Blacklisting was a national scandal and GMB has won compensation for GMB members across the GMB regions of the UK and Ireland . This map shows you where they are located , with the size of the dots representing the size of each pay-out
SCOTLAND 31 GMB members
£ 1,665,000
NORTH EAST 5 GMB members
£ 150,000
NORTHERN IRELAND 2 GMB members
£ 65,000
NORTH WEST 13 GMB members
£ 650,000
WEST MIDLANDS 2 GMB members
£ 225,000
YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER 17 GMB members
£ 630,000
EAST MIDLANDS 4 GMB members
£ 115,000
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 5 GMB members
£ 200,000
WALES 2 GMB members
£ 120,000
EASTERN 7 GMB members
£ 360,000
TOTAL 116 GMB members

£ 5,340,000

SOUTH WEST 4 GMB members
£ 215,000
SOUTH EAST 13 GMB members
£ 590,000
LONDON 9 GMB members
£ 240,000
WHO DID THE BLACKLISTING ?
Blacklisting involved names being given to the Consulting Association by industry managers , which included information about union membership of the worker , political affiliation and where they stood on issues of health and safety in the workplace .
Firms such as Sir Robert McAlpine were instrumental in getting the blacklist set up and other construction giants used the information to decide who they would , or wouldn ' t , hire . This led to many qualified workers being denied work .
As well as winning compensation for members , GMB has won an apology from the companies involved . A legal representative for the construction firms said :
“ The Defendants are here today to offer , through me , their sincere and unreserved apologies to the Claimants for any damage caused . The Defendants apologise as providers of any information and for the
“ I still feel traumatised by the deaths of my friends and colleagues on the site , and it appears now that I have been punished for standing up to show how their deaths were preventable .” GMB Witness E loss of employment suffered as a result of communication of information during the operation of the Consulting Association . They also apologise for the anxiety and hurt to feelings caused as a result .”
Tim Roache , GMB General Secretary said : “ We have secured £ 5.3 million of justice for GMB members blacklisted by powerful construction companies who thought they were above the law . GMB is proud to have been the first union into the High Court and we are absolutely delighted that all of the claimants have achieved generous settlements and a full apology from the blacklisting companies .”

HEAR THEM SPEAK

Blacklisted members had their voices heard at GMB Congress 2016 and you can hear what they had to say here : http :// tinyurl . com / j4qtn6o www . gmb . org . uk 13