ANTI-BLACKLISTING campaigners mounted their second rolling programme of protests yesterday by targeting a human resources manager at the government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) HQ in Leeds.

GMB union, which is mounting the protests, “named and shamed” DWP human resources manager Valerie Bennison for her part in allegedly blacklisting workers when she was a human resources manager in the construction industry.

Detailed evidence of organised blacklisting in the construction industry was discovered in 2009 when government officials seized a Consulting Association database, run by Ian Kerr, of 3,213 construction workers used by 44 companies to vet new recruits and deny jobs to trade union and health and safety activists.

The blacklisting policy devastated the lives of the workers and their families.

According to GMB, Ms Bennison was human resources manager at Whessoe Oil and Gas Ltd from May 2004 until November 2007. 

She has yet to come clean and apologise for her part in the hurt and damage caused by her former employer Whessoe Oil and Gas which was involved in blacklisting at least 22 workers, the union said.

The Leeds demonstration yesterday won support from other unions, including the National Union of Students.

GMB national officer Justin Bowden said: “People who work at the DWP now know that they have a known blacklister working in their midst. She has not apologised or come clean in any way, never mind atoning for what she has done.”

GMB regional secretary Tim Roache said: “Blacklisting is a massive issue for all the victims involved.”

The rolling protests have been dubbed the “Crocodile Tears” tour, relating to those who implemented the scandalous policy.

It also promotes GMB’s rejection of the “Nuremberg Defence” — managers who say they were “only obeying orders,” the defence used by nazi war criminals after World War II.

A spokesman for DWP said: “We cannot comment on individual members of staff.”

The Morning Star left a message asking Ms Bennison for a comment but received no reply.