The use of anti-terror legislation by an energy company to stop protests by a ‘blacklisted’ worker at one of its plants has been branded ‘fanciful’ by a High Court judge.

Under the Terrorism Act, Scottish & Southern Energy brought an injunction against union member Steve Acheson to stop him protesting at the Fiddler’s Ferry power station in Cheshire. The company had claimed that Acheson, and two others were, ‘a threat to the energy supplies of this country’ because of their picketing at the site.

Mr Justice Mann said the application by Scottish and Southern Energy was ‘fanciful to the point of paranoia’ and awarded Acheson costs.

Earlier this year, Acheson told the Guardian that being blacklisted for his trade union membership is the reason why he has only had 36 weeks’ employment in the last nine years. He believes he was blacklisted after winning three separate employment tribunals and felt he had been punished for those victories.

The picket at the Cheshire plant was part of a campaign against union members being blacklisted.

Scottish & Southern Energy, which supplies electricity to nine million homes, is expected to apply to the County Court.

Related links

Read an IRR News story: ‘The criminalisation of protest’