TRADE Unionists staged noisy protests in Winchester over alleged ‘blacklisting’ of workers.

Members of the trade union Unite picketed the Hampshire County Council headquarters in Sussex Street last Thursday as part of a national campaign over the removal of 28 workers involved in the London Crossrail project. They also protested outside Southampton Airport.

Blacklisting involves companies keeping secret files on people who are deemed to be trouble-makers because they have taken part in trade union activities, or even asked for basic health and safety regulations to be put in place during dangerous jobs.

The union claims the workers were sacked in September 2012 by consortium BFK for blowing the whistle over health and safety issues.

Speaking outside county council offices in Winchester, Chris Stiles, of Unite South-East, said: “What we are saying is Hampshire County Council should not be putting tax payers' money into blacklister firms. They need to remedy this immediately.

“We are not going to stop until our demands are met which includes the reemployment of our members who have been sacked and a proper union agreement on Crossrail so that workers can live in peace knowing they will not get sacked and can continue with their life.”

Although there were only small groups of protestors at each site, 40 other demonstrations took place across the country.

Cllr Seán Woodward, county council executive member for environment, transport and economy, added: “We understand that the dispute by Unite relates to working practices on the Crossrail project in London which Amey has confirmed it has no involvement in.”