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UCATT’s London Events on Workers Memorial Day

Construction union UCATT are organising two events in London to mark this year’s International Workers Memorial Day on Wednesday 28^th April.

Construction workers from throughout the capital will gather at the Building Worker Statute for a short memorial meeting, which will include speeches, the laying of wreaths, a minute silence and the release of black balloons, in memory of construction workers killed in the past year.

Wednesday 28^th April

Building Worker Statute

Opposite Tower Hill Tube

By Tower of London

London

9.30am

This event will be followed at 12.30pm on Wednesday 28^th April by a short memorial event in memory of Shaun Scurry, to be held outside the Westfield Stratford City construction project, adjacent to Stratford Station. Mr Scurry was killed in an accident whilst working on the Stratford City project in December 2009.

The event will include speeches and a minute’s silence. The event has been arranged to coincide with construction workers lunch breaks and UCATT are encouraging workers on Stratford City, The Olympic Village and the main Olympic Park to attend.

Jerry Swain, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s London and South East Region, said: “Every workplace death is an individual tragedy. Workers Memorial Day is when workers come together to remember colleagues who were killed and injured at work and is an opportunity for all workers to renew demands for safer working conditions.”

Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain. Last year there were 53 construction fatalities, including 11 in London.

UCATT are campaigning for the Government commissioned report into construction fatalities by Rita Donaghy, One Death is Too Many to be implemented in its entirety. The report’s 29 recommendations to improve safety include extending the Gangmasters Act to construction and the introduction of statutory director’s duties.

This year’s events are especially important, as it is the first year that the Government has officially recognised Workers Memorial Day.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

UCATT represents 125,000 members employed in the construction industry throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

Construction Deaths in London Remain Far Too High

Research by construction union UCATT has revealed that 11 construction workers were fatally injured in London in 2008/9.

The total of 11 deaths is the same number as were killed in the capital in 2007/8. The number of deaths in London is the highest in the country.

The total number of construction deaths in the United Kingdom fell from 72 in 2007/8 to 53 in 2008/9 a decrease of 26 per cent. The decline was principally due to the recession which has led to a steep decline in construction output and in a large number of construction workers being laid off.

Construction remains the most dangerous industry in Britain. The industry is highly casualised. Many workers do not have contracts of employment, regularly move between employers and/or are bogusly self-employed. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of workers being supplied to construction companies through employment agencies and gangmasters.

In Rita Donaghy’s report into the high number of construction fatalities One Death Is Too Many, published in July 2009, she highlighted as a major cause of concern the low number of Health and Safety Executive construction inspectors working in London.

Jerry Swain, Regional Secretary of UCATT’s London and South East Region, said: “Each of these deaths is an individual tragedy. It is appalling that deaths in London are as high this year as they were last year, despite the large drop in construction work being undertaken in London. It is essential that the level of inspections, enforcement and prosecutions is increased so that construction workers are better protected. This number of deaths in London must never be repeated.”

Further analysis of the national data on fatalities shows that the most likely cause of death remains falls. In 2008/9 there were 21 deaths caused by falls, 40% of all deaths. The second highest number of deaths were caused by people being hit by a moving or falling object, this accounted for 5 deaths, 9% of the overall total.

 UCATT Warns a Drop in Construction Deaths in South East England Must Not Lead to Complacency on Safety

Construction union UCATT have warned that a drop in construction deaths in South East England must not lead to companies becoming complacent about safety.

Research undertaken by UCATT has discovered that there were 3 construction workers killed in the South East in 2008/9. A substantial reduction from the 7 construction workers killed in the region in 2007/8.

The number of construction deaths in the United Kingdom fell from 72 in 2007/8 to 53 in 2008/9, a decrease of 26 per cent. The decline was principally due to the recession, which has led to a steep drop in construction output and resulted in a large number of construction workers being laid off.

Construction remains the most dangerous industry in Britain. The industry is highly casualised. Many workers do not have contracts of employment, regularly move between employers and/or are bogusly self-employed. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of workers being supplied to construction companies through employment agencies and gangmasters.

Jerry Swain, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s London and South East Region, said: “Any reduction in deaths is good news. However the death of three construction workers is still three too many and each one of these deaths is an individual tragedy. The main reason that deaths have decreased is the economic downturn which has led to a substantial drop in work being undertaken. Companies must not become complacent when it comes to construction safety, or the number of deaths will increase.”

Further analysis of the national data on fatalities shows that the most likely cause of death remains falls. In 2008/9 there were 21 deaths caused by falls, 40% of all deaths. The second highest number of deaths were caused by people being hit by a moving or falling object, this accounted for 5 deaths, 9% of the overall total.

Union Campaign Saves Saves Skilled Work In Islington

A 10-month campaign by construction union UCATT to prevent the loss of highly skilled jobs from Islington has been a success.

The campaign began last year when Kier Islington, which provides repairs and maintenance on local authority housing in the borough, announced that it intended to close the highly successful joinery shop and transfer the work to Harlow, Essex.

The campaign won the strong support of the Islington Labour Group, who took the matter to a full council meeting. The closure of the joinery shop was supported by the ruling Liberal Democrats and confirmed by the slimmest of margins.

Due to the strength of the opposition to the proposed closure Kier Islington have now reconsidered their plans.

The joinery shop will now transfer from its existing Vale Royal location to newly modified premises in nearby Brewery Road.

Jerry Swain, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s London and South East Region, said: “I am pleased that Kier Islington have listened to reason. This eminently sensible decision will both preserve jobs and ensure that local residents receive the best possible service.”

The joinery shop provides doors, windows and stairways for local authority properties throughout the borough. They also provide an emergency repair service when it is needed. The workers are highly skilled and the joinery shop also provides apprenticeships and training, in an area where high quality manual training is limited.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235