Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 City of London skyscraper targeted as TUC national day of protest gets underway

The Cheesegrater tower was the focus for an anti-blacklisting demonstration this morning at the start of a nationwide day of protest over the issue organised by the Trade Unions Congress (TUC).

Protesters from the Blacklist Support Group and Unite the union gathered at the Laing O鈥橰ourke site in the City of London from 7am.

Unite claims that Laing O鈥橰ourke 鈥� one of the main contractors facing High Court action over blacklisting and part of the industry鈥檚 new compensation scheme for victims of the practice - is particularly anti-union and has barred its representatives from both the Cheesegrater and the Francis Crick laboratory site.

Protestors held up banners saying: 鈥淒avid Cameron! Where鈥檚 your inquiry into blacklisting?鈥�

Electrician Frank Morris, who claimed he was blacklisted on Crosssrail for raising safety concerns and recently won his job back and is working on the scheme at Moorgate, attended.

He told 黑洞社区: 鈥淟aing O鈥橰ourke has a particularly anti-union attitude and will not allow union organisers or officers on its sites. People are too afraid to speak out on health and safety.鈥�

A Laing O鈥橰ourke spokesperson said: 鈥淟aing O鈥橰ourke fully supports and complies with industry-wide guidelines concerning access for union officials. No unions are banned from access.鈥�

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