Glasgow electrician Stewart Hume
is being victimised because of his trade union activities during the
recent BESNA dispute. Stewart was one of the leading UNITE rank and file
activists in the country whilst working for Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) at the Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Training Centre and Ineos Grangemouth Oil Refinery.
Blacklisting is still going on in 2012.
Glasgow electrician Stewart Hume
is being victimised because of his trade union activities during the
recent BESNA dispute. Stewart was one of the leading UNITE rank and file
activists in the country whilst working for Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) at the Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Training Centre and Ineos Grangemouth Oil Refinery.
In a blatant act of victimisation Stewart was transferred away from
Grangemouth during the second Unite ballot for strike action and has
now been made "redundant" at a time when Balfour Beatty are taking on
new starters across Scotland and employing agency labour at his previous
Grangemouth contract in complete disregard of the construction industry
nationally negotiated agreements. He has also watched other operatives
on redundancy notice have their notices recinded. Stewart is the ONLY
electrician employed by BBES to be made redundant in the entire country.
He also appears to be the only person to actually come out of a
redundancy appeal meeting with a worse Redundancy Matrix score than what
he went in with!
Grangemouth during the second Unite ballot for strike action and has
now been made "redundant" at a time when Balfour Beatty are taking on
new starters across Scotland and employing agency labour at his previous
Grangemouth contract in complete disregard of the construction industry
nationally negotiated agreements. He has also watched other operatives
on redundancy notice have their notices recinded. Stewart is the ONLY
electrician employed by BBES to be made redundant in the entire country.
He also appears to be the only person to actually come out of a
redundancy appeal meeting with a worse Redundancy Matrix score than what
he went in with!
Stewart said:
"I’m disappointed that
after 16 years service with the company that they have used my
opposition to BESNA against me. I did what was right, the threat of
de-skilling our industry was something that I wasn’t prepared to stand
by and allow to happen due to the fact that my dad, who was a skilled
operative, was electrocuted and killed 28 years ago. Accidents can
happen to anyone, however my concern was that the industry would be
filled with inexperienced operatives making things more dangerous for us
all. I’m now extremely concerned that with the recent information
regarding Balfour Beatty’s involvement with the Consulting Association
blacklisting scandal, that my future employment in the industry could be
affected as I could be on a present day "Blacklist". If this is the
case, companies who are still using such practices should remember that
it’s not just the individual they are blacklisting, it’s their whole
family! I have a 21 month old daughter and a partner, who has been
totally supportive throughout the whole situation, to look after and
provide for."
after 16 years service with the company that they have used my
opposition to BESNA against me. I did what was right, the threat of
de-skilling our industry was something that I wasn’t prepared to stand
by and allow to happen due to the fact that my dad, who was a skilled
operative, was electrocuted and killed 28 years ago. Accidents can
happen to anyone, however my concern was that the industry would be
filled with inexperienced operatives making things more dangerous for us
all. I’m now extremely concerned that with the recent information
regarding Balfour Beatty’s involvement with the Consulting Association
blacklisting scandal, that my future employment in the industry could be
affected as I could be on a present day "Blacklist". If this is the
case, companies who are still using such practices should remember that
it’s not just the individual they are blacklisting, it’s their whole
family! I have a 21 month old daughter and a partner, who has been
totally supportive throughout the whole situation, to look after and
provide for."
The site based managers have admitted to Stewart that they have
plenty of work left for him but it’s clear Balfour Beatty Human
Resources Department want to get rid of him at all costs. The Director
of Human Resources at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services is Gerry Harvey
– a proven blacklister of trade unionists after being exposed in court,
the Westminster parliament and media for his active participation
during the Consulting Association scandal.
plenty of work left for him but it’s clear Balfour Beatty Human
Resources Department want to get rid of him at all costs. The Director
of Human Resources at Balfour Beatty Engineering Services is Gerry Harvey
– a proven blacklister of trade unionists after being exposed in court,
the Westminster parliament and media for his active participation
during the Consulting Association scandal.
At the Scottish Affairs Select Committee in Westminster parliament today, Gail Cartmail UNITE Assistant General Secretary said that Gerry Harvey has "form for blacklisting" and she was "absolutely convinced" that blacklisting was still ongoing and "spying is the standard operating procedure" at BBES.
Full video footage of the oral evidence (starts at 1hour 50mins) http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=11332
Full video footage of the oral evidence (starts at 1hour 50mins) http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=11332
At a recent demonstration outside BBES headquarters in Glasgow Jim Sheridan MP said:
"It
is a long time since the days when trade unions and trade unionists
were seen as the enemy within. You don’t have to get into blacklisting.
You don’t have to get into undermining terms and conditions of
employment that have been negotiated over the years peacefully. How much
profit do they want to make before they stop attacking people at the
workplace?"
His closing message to Balfour Beatty was:"If you’re gonna keep blacklisting people – then we’re coming after you
Eddie Current (leader of the sparks rank & file) has said:
"Its simple. If Balfour Beatty don’t reinstate Stewart Hume by
10th September then we’ll consider that a declaration of war. Every
Balfour Beatty project in the country will be a legitimate target. The
only person to blame for this situation is Gerry Harvey. If the company
had an ounce of decency, it would be that blacklisting wretch they would
be sacking."
10th September then we’ll consider that a declaration of war. Every
Balfour Beatty project in the country will be a legitimate target. The
only person to blame for this situation is Gerry Harvey. If the company
had an ounce of decency, it would be that blacklisting wretch they would
be sacking."
REINSTATE STEWART HUME
