Blacklisted

The secret war between big business and union activists

Dave Smith and Phil Chamberlain, New Internationalist, 312 pages, £9.99

The illegal strategies that multinational construction companies were willing to resort to in their attempt to keep union activists away from their places of work are brought together for the first time in this book which tells the story of the blacklisting scandal.

It is a story where spying and collusion with the police and security services resulted in victimisation, violence and long-term unemployment, which ultimately led to the destruction of families and communities.

Based on first-hand accounts of the workers, Blacklisted reveals how they were unlawfully victimised for their troubles and how they fought for justice for their years of pain.

With a full inquiry promised by the Labour party, the practice of blacklisting is set to become a hot topic in next month’s general election.

The book also reveals how blacklisting extended beyond construction activists to environmental campaigners, journalists, politicians and academics.

http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war

Review contributed by the Bookmarks socialist bookshop.