Category: News

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Oct 2016 Thales Company Council Report

October 2016: Thales Company Council Update

Dear Colleague

Your company council representatives, DTS Ronnie Fardell and RSS, Ed Hardy and myself met with Senior Thales Management and HR for our regular quarterly meetings. The following was discussed:

Business Update

Thales gave us an update on how their business is going. There were general areas of concern and certain part of the business were doing well. They certainly highlighted areas where action on costs were needed and a recovery plan was under development.

They also stated that the PDD process was now concluded and Thales Training were being contacted and then formal individual plans would be evolved. We also asked if there was any impacts on Thales with regards to the Enterprise Act and they were going to come back to us with details.

2016 Pay

As you may be aware, the RMT have still not accepted the 2016 Pay offer and have indeed rejected the 1.7% offer that has been implemented and further discussions have taken place.

In DTS, this has delivered an improved offer that deals with local issues surrounding the overtime rate and outstanding monies that are owed and we believe that pending a formal letter from the company that we will be in a position to fully discuss this with our reps and members and if agreeable recommend acceptance to our National Executive.

In RSS, we have still not progressed past the initial position in terms of reaching agreement. We have asked for our members to be included into the DTS A-Z Terms and conditions and your reps and management are reviewing that document over the next week. We have also stated that we want the Annual Leave Back Pay issue resolved once and for all and we are looking for two years back pay for those affected from when the correct annual pay was implemented in mid-2013.

They should be getting back us very shortly on that matter.

Changing Rosters in RSS (LT Contract)

A proposal has been sent from management looking for volunteers to work Sunday to Thursday. Any roster change is contentious, sometimes for those changing and sometimes for those left behind. Impacts are often subtle such as lose of overtime and work life balance. You union have agreed to formal meetings in the next two weeks to explore the proposal and report this back to our members.

2017 Pay

We notified Thales that we intended to lodge next year’s pay claim in the next few months. Whilst we note their financial forecast, we will lodge a pay claim that we believe is fair to our members that have helped the company achieve in the past and also have won contracts such as 4LM which have the potential to be extremely profitable. We will keep you informed of any developments.

 

october-2016

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Blacklisting Update 13th October

  1. Compensation is not the same as Justice

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-a666-Compensation-could-never-equal-justice#.V_4bC_krLs2

 

  1. DCI Gordon Mills sues GMB

The senior police officer who gave the PowerPoint presentation at a Consulting Association meeting to senior executives of blacklisting construction companies is suing the GMB union for defamation. You couldn’t make it up!

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/10/former-police-officer-suing-gmb-trade-union-for-defamation

http://www.policeprofessional.com/news.aspx?id=27378

 

  1. Ricky Tomlinson at COPS meeting

Jailed Shrewsbury picket turned national treasure Ricky Tomlinson spoke at a packed out Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) public meeting on Monday night. He talked about the conspiracy between building employers and the state that resulted in his imprisonment and the chemically induced Parkinson’ Disease that killed his friend Des Warren. Over 40 years after the events, the Home Secretary still refuses to release the official government papers in order to cover up the involvement of undercover police and the security services in the 1972 building workers strike and the Shrewsbury trial. Ricky shared the platform with ‘Lisa’, a female activist who had a long term relationship with the undercover police officer Mark Kennedy, Duwayne Brooks, friend of Stephen Lawrence and witness at his murder and lawyer Tamsin Allen.  https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2016/oct/05/duwayne-brooks-ricky-tomlinson-and-lisa-jones-to-tell-how-police-spied-on-them

https://onesmallwindow.wordpress.com/2016/10/11/spy-cops-watching-me-watching-you/

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/20/lisa-jones-girlfriend-of-undercover-police-office-mark-kennedy-interview

 

  1. COPS Scotland launched

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/296366/calls-for-police-spy-inquiry-to-include-scotland/

https://theferret.scot/review-of-secret-police-condemned-as-an-insult-and-whitewash/

 

  1. House of Lords

Baroness Jenny Jones put down a question in the House of Lords on Monday after consultation with me & Phil and relating to the whole police spying on trade unions issue. Below:

“To ask Her Majesty’s Government, what plans they have to strengthen provisions in the Investigatory Powers Bill to give sufficient protection to data relating to trade union and political activities?”

Unsurprisingly, the Tory government are not intending to make any changes.

 

  1. Police spying on unions during News International dispute

http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/scotland/latestnews/union-leader-calls-for-inquiry-into-policing-during-historic-newspaper-strike/

 

  1. Andy Higgins R.I.P.

Details of funeral
11am Friday 21st October 2016
St. Marylebone Crematorium
East End Road
Finchley
N2 0RZ

Wake:
The Boston Arms
178 Junction Road
N19 5QQ

 

Message from Construction Safety Campaign:

Andy Higgins died on 17th September age 86.
Andy Higgins member of UCATT, previously a member of its London regional council and branch secretary. He dedicated his life to fighting for all those whom faced oppression. Having left Ireland to come to Britain at the age of 17. He went on to become a Carpenter Joiner working in many parts of the country. Andy alongside other Irish construction workers were in their
early years very involved with the Construction Safety Campaign (CSC) and also involved in the 1960-70s civil rights movement carried out by Connolly Association in the UK. Andy was one of the leading campaigners that successfully exposed the establishment lies which led to the Birmingham Six convictions being overturned and them being released from prison. From the
1960s up to before his death he continued to be involved in all the major worker’s battles, in particular the 1972 Building Workers Strike. Andy was also a great singer and dancer. In 1988 when the Construction Safety Campaign was founded he became its National Treasurer and held this position up until early this year. He didn’t just do the important paperwork needed as treasurer as he was a major figure in galvanizing construction workers to support all our activities. He was a very important part of what the CSC achieved.
Condolences go to Teresa Andy’s wife and family.
In preference to floral tributes Andy would have appreciated a donation to The Morning Star or The Construction Safety Campaign.

 

  1. Thanks for the invites:

GMB Justice conference Liverpool, Institute of Employment Rights Liverpool, North West Labour Film Festival Liverpool and Orgreave Truth & Justice confernce

Roy Bentham, Tony Sweeney and Dave Smith representing

https://www.facebook.com/GMBNWItradeunion/

http://www.ier.org.uk/events/health-and-safety-update-2016-liverpool

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/orgreave-campaigners-to-hold-sheffield-conference-1-8147451

https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/NWFF16_Postcard_A6_310816_v2_WR.pdf

 

  1. Blacklisted book

Thank You to UNITE Liverpool Construction branch, UNITE Middlesborough construction branch, NW&I region GMB for purchasing bulk orders 50 copies each of the updated edition of Blacklisted book.

Bulk orders of the book for union branches receive a reduced rate and are available directly from the publishers: Dan at New Internationalist danrb@newint.org

 

  1. Blacklisting coming up soon at:

Sat 15th Oct  – CWU Youth event – Sheffield

Sat 15th Oct – Lucy Parker at Equity – The Old Vic, London https://vimeo.com/177553232

Tues 18th Oct – Institute of Employment Rights – London

Sat 29th October – The new ‘Blacklisted’ film at the London Anarchist Bookfair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

 

  1. Labour Party Conference in Liverpool

Jeremy Corbyn states support for full inquiries into justice campaigns including blacklisting, Orgreave and Shrewsbury in his keynote speech.

John McDonnell co-founder of the BSG attended the Liverpool v Hull match where a banner was unfurled on behalf of those justice campaigns with our collective support being reaffirmed for Corbyn after his reelection as leader of the Party

http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2016-09-24/fans-to-unfurl-corbyn-banner-on-the-kop/

 

 

Blacklist Support Group

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

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

 

 

 

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Tube Lines: Where's our Pay & Pension?

Tube Lines: Pay, Pensions and Night Tube

All three issues have now become intrinsically linked together. LUL/ Tube Lines want to state that the Pay cannot be settled without agreement to Night Tube. The RMT are saying that there will be no agreement to Night Tube unless the Company agree to entry into the TfL Pension Scheme for all. Throw into this complex web that LUL have now imposed Night Tube running on the Jubilee Line and are about to start on the Northern then matters are coming to a head.

So I think it is important to recap on where we are with each item.

Pay

Pay discussions stalled on the issue of the Company Offer differing from that given to LUL staff. All through the talks Tube Lines had stated it would be the same as LUL only for us to receive a final offer that was fundamentally different. Whilst the money was the same, there was none of the guarantees of no change of rosters, work life balance etc. Indeed it stated that staff would have to move to Sunday to Thursday and this had major impacts on our members. In LUL Engineering staff could stay Monday to Friday even on Night Tube Lines.

For clarity, we see no reason why implementation of the Pay rise cannot take place NOW. 

 

pay-night-tube-offer-rmt-05-02-16-1

 

2015-pay-agreement

 

This offer was therefore unacceptable and the Night Tube Sections needed to be altered to meet the aspirations of our membership

Night Tube

LUL have now implemented night tube on the Jubilee Line and are about to start it on the Northern. However, Tube Lines have agreed that no further implementation of Sunday to Thursday working will occur at this time. Your union have made it clear that if this position changes with regards to this then we will have no choice but to ask our executive to name strike action.

Also, some staff went Sunday to Thursday a while ago such as Track Staff and the company alleged that this was not linked to night tube. This obviously, is not the case and we are making sure that any agreement incorporates all staff and that these changes are very much part of our talks. We are also pushing that any staff wishing to be on a Monday to Friday roster should be able to transfer to LUL lines in equivalent grades. This would be on LUL terms and conditions and where vacancies exist.

Pensions

Discussions have taken place at a Joint Working Party in both Tube Lines and LUL and we are reporting back on any progress at Acas next week (probably Monday 17th October). LUL have again stated that they believe that the implementation date of April 2017 will be achieved and the issue is funding. We believe that there is money there now that Amey are losing the contract and demand an end to the two Tier workforce now.

There is never any money, unless of course, it is to pay for redundancy for higher level Managers to leave LUL before a Cap comes in on Redundancy Pay. There was plenty of money for that

What next?

The Tube Lines reps agreed to pull all these issues together and they either get resolved by October or we are back into dispute. Once next weeks talks at Acas are concluded then the reps will be call back and a full report and discussion will occur. Any offers or update will be sent out to our members first and you will need to let your reps know your views at that stage. Hopefully we can report progress and success. if not then our members will need to let us know what action they wish to take to take our demands forward.

In short, it’s time to give us our money and give us a TfL Pension and that time is NOW

 

 

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LUL: New Signals Framework Agreement Agreed

Following lengthy discussions, the New LUL Signals Framework Agreement has been agreed at the Company Council.

 

signals-framework-oct-2016

 

If you work for LUL in Signals, Power or DLO (Comms & Electrical), then this will apply to you.

The Main changes are:

  • The introduction of the support fitter grade in Stations & Civils area
  • Changes to how people are chosen for grade progression (move to trade tests to ensure equality)
  • Changes to the On-Call agreement in Power
  • Auto-Tech Grade will be phased out with new technology. Agreement on their promotion to Technical Officer and redeployment to alternative signalling areas agreed at Functional Council
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National Lobby of Parliament for Palestine

National Lobby of Parliament for Palestine

 

The National Lobby of Parliament for Palestine will take place on Tuesday 15 November, from 12-6pm, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

 

As it gets closer, more and more people are contacting their MPs about the lobby. Informing and pressuring our representatives in Parliament is central to the campaign.

 

The details about the lobby are all online: www.palestinecampaign.org/2016lobby

 

The form for people to make appointments with their MPs: http://act.palestinecampaign.org/lobby/parliament2016

 

The form for people who can’t attend the lobby but want to ask their MP to support it is here: http://act.palestinecampaign.org/lobby/not-at-lobby2016

 

Please make every effort to attend and encourage family and friends to come along.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

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MEMBERS WORKING PAST THEIR STATUTORY RETIREMENT AGE

Dear Colleague,

 

GUIDANCE AND LEGAL ADVICE ON THE RIGHTS OF MEMBERS WORKING PAST THEIR STATUTORY RETIREMENT AGE

 

Please find attached a briefing note which has been requested on the rights of members who work past their statutory retirement age. Should you have any queries on this document, please refer to our legal team.

 

I would be grateful if you could bring this circular to the attention of all members.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

 

circular-guidance-and-legal-advice-on-the-rights-of-members-working-past-their-statutory-retirement-age

 

guidance-and-legal-advice-on-the-rights-of-members-working-past-their-stututory-retirment-age

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LT RETIRED MEMBERS BRANCH Sept Minutes

LT RETIRED MEMBERS BRANCH

Acting Secretary: Oliver New

Contact: 07931 198501 olivernew@btopenworld.com

Minutes of Branch Meeting 6th September 2016 in Unity House

Present  were Jackie Darby, Carol Foster, Gary Weston, Olly New, Martin Eady, Roy Carey and guest speaker John Reid

Apologies were received from Geoff Palmer, Frank Murray and John Leach.

It was agreed that Carol chair the meeting.

Minutes:  The minutes of the previous meeting, which had re-launched the Branch, were agreed as a true record.

Matters Arising from the Minutes:

  • Jacky had discussed the LT Pension Consultative Committee with Mark Harding. A nominee was needed for the retired section, but the deadline was too short for the branch to assist. Mark had offered to help with some names of retired members.
  • Olly had arranged for the Branch to be publicised in a yellow circular
  • Carol reported that the National Pensioners Convention was holding a Greater London Rally on 2nd November at 1130 am on Old Palace Yard, opposite the House of Commons.

Introductions:

Everybody briefly introduced themselves.

Martin had brought copies of his excellent just published book “Hold on Tight – London Transport and the Trade Unions”.

 Reports:

  • Olly reported that the branch is still in the process of establishing itself and acquiring members – he had contacted all LT RMT Branches asking them to contact or pass on names of retired activists.
  • Martin and Carol had contacted several former activists, who were interested, although most were no longer in London.

Guest Speaker John Reid the RMT LT Executive Member reported on some of the current issues facing RMT.  The strikes taking place on Southern are not merely against the removal of guards, but effectively the removal of RMT. Southern management had made major concessions to station staff to prevent RMT opening a second front.

On LUL, the core working agreements on Fleet was under threat.

On the Piccadilly Line, threats of drivers strike action had beaten back management on 7 disciplinary cases and a similar struggle was underway on the H&C.  There was a major success in Tubelines coming back in house although there was a dispute over pay parity.

The big issue was stations and although RMT has done well in reducing the impact on members and jobs over 800 posts had gone and jobs was being systematically de-skilled and downgraded. Another ballot was possible.

LUL was preparing another across the board major re-structure (a so-called “Transformation”) in order to make cuts of 2.9 billion pounds.

Overall there is a huge bosses offensive but RMT’s record of resistance was far better than other areas – average RMT members pay had slightly beaten inflation over the last 10 years.

Regional Organiser John Leach had met the Mayor and used the opportunity to raise the issue of bringing cleaners in house. We need to keep organising and recruiting cleaners. John was thanked for his excellent report.

 

Correspondence:

Olly circulated correspondence and highlighted out items of interest including a report from the AGM. It was noted that RMT was not seeking affiliation to the Labour Party, but remaining independent while supporting progressive developments.  A discussion ensued.

 

Building the Branch:

Roy offered to promote the Branch on Facebook

Carole offered to make phone calls to identified former activists and reps

Olly would try to get a list of former reps

Jacky would contact Paul Jackson and ask for contact details of former activists

Martin would do the same with Bill Teale.

 

Future Activity:

Cleaners’ recruitment – normally a 10.00am meet up at Unity House on the first Monday.

Southern picket lines – Ray was going

Olly was asked to bring flags and badges to the next meeting

It was agreed that when the Branch was bigger we would start to invite outside speakers – Dot Gibson and Louise Irvine were suggested and a speaker on social services. It was agreed to ask Mark Harding to talk about the LT Pension.

Discussion at next meeting:  Olly would talk about the battle to defend our NHS.

Elections:

It was agreed that we would elect the following officers at the next meeting on November 1st.

  • Secretary
  • Assistant Secretary
  • Chair
  • Vice-Chair
  • Pensions Liaison Officer

Plus delegates to the London Transport Regional Council.

Future Meetings:

The next meeting will be Tuesday 1st November at 14.00 in meeting Room 1, Unity House.

In 2017:  Tuesday 10 January, Tuesday 7 March and Tuesday 2nd May (subject to room availability).

No other business: meeting closed

Posted on

Jeremy Corbyn Victory

LU Engineering Branch would like to congratulate Jeremy Corbyn on his increased victory as Labour Leader. He is a member of the RMT Parliamentary Group and has always shown support for the union’s key policies such as Rail Nationalisation and Fighting the Austerity cuts.

We look forward to the Parliamentary Labour Party now getting behind their leader and start fighting for working people instead of among themselves.

It’s time for a strong and united Party to put the Government on the back foot. As the RMT say ‘Unity is Strength’

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Tube Lines Pensions Update

John Leach (LT Regional Organiser), John Reid (LT NEC Member), Senior LUL and Tube Lines Reps met today to discuss progress in the campaign to achieve Pensions for all staff.

It was noted that there was difficult talks in all areas however the talks in Tube Lines areas have progressed and we have visibility in nearly all areas regarding their proposed efficiencies to fund the pensions.

However, the talks in LUL have been less successful with Management tabling cuts to Main Terms and Conditions such as Pay, Annual Leave entitlement and increases to Hours worked. All of these are unacceptable and all are rejected. Similarly, it would appear that LUL are hoping to impose their previous proposals for efficiencies savings to fund pensions into the general austerity cut agenda. This would similarly be unacceptable and rejected.

In order to drive these talks in the right direction and maintain our deadline for progress of 5th October, we are now asking for Acas to be reconvened so that we can have a straight talking discussion on this matter. The fact is that there are plenty of efficiencies to be had from Amey losing their contract and our members want equality and an end to a two tier workforce

The reps will again reconvene after the 5th October and we hope to either announce progress or what action we may be forced to take regarding this cause

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Get well soon Steve Hedley

LUengineering Branch wishes Steve a quick recovery from the heart attack that he has suffered. We are glad to hear that our amazing NHS has acted quickly and he is well on the road to full health and being fighting fit again

From us all ‘Get Well Soon’

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RMT calls for London Underground to bring forward staffing review

RMT calls for London Underground to bring forward staffing review in wake of safety investigation

 

TUBE UNION RMT is calling for London Underground’s staffing review to be brought forward after the company’s own safety investigation slammed its new staffing model.

 

As well as closing ticket offices London Underground has removed staff from control rooms and the vast majority of stations have less staff on duty than before the changes, which imposed in April of this year.

 

The investigation was ordered after an incident involving a passenger slipping between a train and platform at Canning Town in May. The report describes how the incident spiralled out of control with communications hampered by the absence of a control room and inadequate staffing to deal with the situation.

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"Things like that don't happen here"

“The biggest difficulty we faced with the blacklisting and the undercover police campaigns, is that people think we live in a liberal democracy and things like that don’t happen here”

So said John McDonnell, shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his keynote speech at the opening plenary of the Blacklisting, Bullying & Blowing the Whistle conference at the University of Greenwich co-hosted by Blacklist Support Group (BSG) and the Work & Employment Research Unit (WERU) last weekend.

 

The aim of the conference supported by New Internationalist and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, was to expose the hidden underbelly of the modern workplace, where intrusive surveillance of workers is common and victimization of those prepared to stand up for their rights is widespread (but virtually ignored by the mainstream media). We certainly achieved that, with reports about the conference appearing in the press before, during and after the event.

 

The 4 core themes of the conference were: Blacklisting – Bullying – Whistleblowing – Police Surveillance

But the event was not just a conference, it was a book launch, a film premier and an art exhibition.

 

Speakers included: John McDonnell but also legal experts including; John Hendy QC, David Renton and Declan Owens, trade union leaders such as NUJ General Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet and ASGs; Gail,Cartmail (UNITE), Roger McKenzie (UNISON), Amanda Brown (NUT). Some of the UK’s leading academics in the field of work and whistleblowing were also in attendance such as Prof. Sian Moore, Prof. Keith Ewing, Prof. Phil Taylor, Prof. David Lewis, Dr Jack Fawbert and Dr Wim Vandekerckhove.

 

But it was the inclusion of activists on the panels that gave the conference its unique insight to the realities of the modern workplace and the weekend’s unique feel. From Roy Bentham and Dave Smith from the Blacklist Support Group, to Eileen Chubb and Dr Minh Alexander among many victimised whistleblowers speaking, plus Lee Jasper and Suresh Grover representing Black and Asian communities suffering under the austerity cuts and because of state surveillance.

 

Friday evening saw the film premier of the new ‘Blacklisted’ documentary by director Tom Wood (via Reel News) and the book launch of ‘Blacklisted: the secret war between big business and union activists’ by Dave Smith & Phil Chamberlain published by New Internationalist.

 

The biggest news story of the weekend and the most memorable session in the conference related to undercover police surveillance of activists. The police spy known as ‘Carlo Neri’ was accused of inciting anti-racist campaigners to firebomb a charity that he claimed was run by an Italian fascist. This allegation appeared in the ‘Blacklisted’ book launched at the conference and made the national press. ‘Andrea’, the female activist who was deceived into a long term relationship with the undercover officer spoke in public for the very first time at the spycops plenary session at the conference, which was chaired by the BSG and Police Spies Out of Lives spokesperson, Helen Steel. Andrea’s emotional testimony was the most memorable part of the weekend.

 

McDonnell told the delegates to the conference “You tell us what you want a Corbyn Labour government to introduce, and I will make sure it gets discussed at the highest level”. We intend to do just that.

 

Below are just a few of the press  and photo-journalism reports generated by from the conference:

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f39f-I-was-just-used-to-infilitrate-unions#.V9_ppU1OXcs

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/15/police-carlo-neri-accused-of-urging-anti-fascist-activists-to-commit-arson?CMP=share_btn_tw

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-9824-Culture-of-impunity-let-law-breakers-off-the-hook#.V9_oEk1OXcs

http://shopstewards.net/2016/09/nssn-309-blacklisted-watch-the-film-read-the-book/

http://www.reportdigital.co.uk/gallery/recent-events/1803/2243/1369/0/blacklisting-conference-london.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60718029@N06/sets/72157672827306410

http://shopstewards.net/2016/09/nssn-309-blacklisted-watch-the-film-read-the-book/

http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/23602/21-09-2016/film-review-blacklisted

 

BSG would like to say a ‘massive thank you’ to everyone who helped make the event possible. From the speakers, the University of Greenwich events staff, the artists and musicians.  

 

 

Blacklist Support Group

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

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

 

 

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