Read on Twitter
Welcome back to our ~live tweets~ of our Union Talk series, this time featuring @DaveBlacklist and the construction industry from the 1970s. #blacklisting #spycops #rankandfile
Let’s get started
Let’s get started
The interesting thing about the construction industry is the apparent cycle of calm periods and then explosions of strikes, blockades and occupations by rank and file members or unofficial groups of people organizing.
In order to understand the history and experience of the construction industry we have to talk about the construction companies and the unions...
But because this is class war: we also have to talk about the state.
But because this is class war: we also have to talk about the state.
Unions have a hard time in construction:
- jobs finish! It is always temporary
- there is contracting and sub-contracting
- workers are bogusly deemed self-employed, they lack basic employment rights
- jobs finish! It is always temporary
- there is contracting and sub-contracting
- workers are bogusly deemed self-employed, they lack basic employment rights
Like many workplaces at UVW, construction workers are frequently deemed self-employed, but supervisors tell you when to arrive and go home, companies provide all the equipment and tell you what to do.
Workers spend only a few weeks at a time on job sites, they work for massive transnational corporations, and many times are working for different companies on the same job site.
All without the employment rights they deserve!
All without the employment rights they deserve!
On top of all of this: the construction industry is famous for anti-unionism.
In the 1840s, workers were forced to sign contracts saying they were not a member of a trade union before they could get a construction job.
In the 1840s, workers were forced to sign contracts saying they were not a member of a trade union before they could get a construction job.
As time went on, corporation leaders set up secret organizations to stop trade unionism in construction.
One was called “The Economic League” which held a secret blacklist on left wing or trade union activists.
One was called “The Economic League” which held a secret blacklist on left wing or trade union activists.
The EL closed down in 1992 from bad publicity... but not in construction, the blacklist was bought and a new organization “the Consulting Association” was born.
If you were on the list, in short, you either never got hired or got fired when they found out!
If you were on the list, in short, you either never got hired or got fired when they found out!
The British state has long had units + squads built to spy on leftists, these units provided info to these blacklist orgs.
The “National Domestic Extremism Database” even gave a presentation to transnational companies about how to keep left wing and union activists out.
The “National Domestic Extremism Database” even gave a presentation to transnational companies about how to keep left wing and union activists out.
“Mark Cassidy” was an undercover officer for the government who worked and lived with construction union activists for 5 years.
Going so far as to chair meetings! All the while giving info to blacklist organizations.
Going so far as to chair meetings! All the while giving info to blacklist organizations.
This means that organizing in the construction industry was necessarily covert.
Organizing depended regular canteen meetings, almost once a week, and on strong solidarity, with workers supporting you against the employer.
Meetings built cohesion and meant they did things collectively. Their existence depended on direct democracy and mass participation.
Meetings built cohesion and meant they did things collectively. Their existence depended on direct democracy and mass participation.
Rank and file organizing in the construction industry looked like support networks for workers in a dispute.
They were not part of official union structures and were led by lay activists. No paid unions officials here!
They were not part of official union structures and were led by lay activists. No paid unions officials here!
It was never about sending motions to union conferences to make the union more left wing: it simply looked like organizing direct action that workers needed on the ground.
While people would disagree on some things, ultimately they stuck together to stand up against the bosses.
While people would disagree on some things, ultimately they stuck together to stand up against the bosses.
(Question period now) how do you smell an undercover cop?
an answer: they were super activists, turned up to every meeting, they were the minutes secretary so they’d have everyone’s names and addresses... but the worst thing we can do is become paranoid.
an answer: they were super activists, turned up to every meeting, they were the minutes secretary so they’d have everyone’s names and addresses... but the worst thing we can do is become paranoid.
We have to trust each other. If we dont, the state has won.
Worth noting though: the undercover cops always had a van (for dropping off stuff, people, etc.) — sorry to anyone who drives a van!
Worth noting though: the undercover cops always had a van (for dropping off stuff, people, etc.) — sorry to anyone who drives a van!
(A Q. on covid + advice for workers): Now is the big battle. Companies are going to come for our rights, our terms + conditions.
When economic crashes happen, and livelihoods depend on supply + demand - wages are going to crash.
There is going to be a tidal wave of disputes.
When economic crashes happen, and livelihoods depend on supply + demand - wages are going to crash.
There is going to be a tidal wave of disputes.
(Q cont’d): We’ve seen what happened with BA, they refused to furlough and have already set up a new company.
No doubt those made redundant will be welcomed in on far worse pay + terms. Many companies will do the same. It is always about profit when it is labour vs capital.
No doubt those made redundant will be welcomed in on far worse pay + terms. Many companies will do the same. It is always about profit when it is labour vs capital.
