1 7/12 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL GMB 22 Stephenson Way ...

ET's would fail and that they should therefore drop their claims. The members
remained resolute and united.
Regarding the blacklisting campaign, GMB had checked the list of 3,200 names on
the Consulting Association’s (TCA) blacklist against GMB membership records. Todate
this had identified about 175 direct matches and 500 possible members. All 175
had been written to. Around 60 had responded to GMB asking us to get their
blacklist files from the ICO which would be passed to Leigh Day solicitors to assess
potential High Court action in the New Year. Members who had not yet responded
would receive follow-up calls from Officers to see why they had chosen not to
respond.
The Union would then be writing to all the 500 possible members. Leigh Day would
launch a High Court action on behalf of GMB members suing for compensation for
loss of work, injury to feeling, possible defamation and a compensatory element.
The question had been raised about other legal actions. Justin reported Gunney,
Clark and Ryan solicitors were running a case for about 100 people via the Blacklist
Support Group. This was a "no-win no-fee" arrangement with 20% of the win going
to the lawyers. GMB was in close and co-operative contact with Dave Smith and the
Blacklist Support Group.
Other action continued against Carillion. The General Secretary had written to all
6,500 Labour Councillors in the UK asking for help with the blacklisting campaign. In
Staffordshire County Council GMB had led the campaign against the outsourcing of
5,000 people from the Education Department and schools. Carillion had not won the
contract.
On the political front, the Scottish Affairs Select Committee continued, with evidence
given by Ian Kerr who ran TCA. He had blown the lid off of those like Carillion who
had said blacklisting was historic by giving evidence he believed it was continuing
and confirmed that TCA had had detailed discussions about Cross Rail and the
Olympics projects. Kerr had also answered questions about links to the police and
security forces and the vetting of Irish nationals.
A public meeting in the House of Commons in support of the Swindon strikers had
been organised by Kamaljeet Jandu with a broad range of equal rights speakers.
John Biggs and Labour members on the GLA had agreed to ask the Mayor of
London questions about Carillion and blacklisting.
Strategic Health Authority councillors of all parties in Swindon had raised further
concerns about the reputational damage of the dispute and had asked the Hospital's
Chief Executive to produce a detailed report for them in the New Year.
(iv) Social Care Sector Update
Justin Bowden, National Officer, reported that along with the General Secretary he
had met with the newly appointed Chairman of Four Seasons (FSHC) and the CEO.
Our industrial, legal and media campaign had clearly worked and the take over by
Terra Firma had brought a new attitude and approach. FSHC had offered GMB: a full
recognition and bargaining agreement to cover all 500 of their care homes, plus any
new - and likely - acquisitions; reinstatement of check-off; wage bargaining at all
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