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UCATT Hold Event To Mark Workers Memorial Day

Every region of construction union UCATT have today (April 28) been involved in events to mark International Workers Memorial Day.

In London an event was held at UCATT’s statue to the Unknown Construction Worker at Tower Hill. Over 300 construction workers from sites in London were in attendance.

Speaking at the event Harry Cohen Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead read out a message of support from Gordon Brown the Prime Minister, which said that the Government would “never stop campaigning for health and safety at home and abroad.”

Mr Cohen, also said: “The prevailing attitude has to be safety first, backed by law.”

Tony O’Brien of the Construction Safety Campaign (who jointly organised the event), said: “There had been a long history of abuse of construction workers” by construction bosses summed up by the phrase “your health their wealth”.

Jerry Swain regional secretary of UCATT’s London and South East Region, made an impassioned plea for a crackdown on rogue construction bosses and said: “You should pay the penalty if you put construction workers lives at risk. We must tell the employers enough, is enough is enough.”

At the end of the ceremony a minute’s silence was held and then black balloons to commemorate every construction worker who was killed at work last year were released.

In 2007/8 69 construction workers were killed. In 2006/7 the figure was 77. Construction is by far the most dangerous industry in Britain.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

International Workers Memorial Day Event In London

Construction union UCATT are holding an event in London to mark International Workers Memorial Day on Monday 28 April.

The event which will be held at UCATT’s Statue to the Unknown Construction Worker and will be addressed by Harry Cohen MP, Jerry Swain, regional Secretary for UCATT’s London and South East Region, and Liliana Alexa whose son Michael was killed in the Battersea Crane Disaster in September 2006.

A minute’s silence in memory of the construction workers killed at work will be held at 10am, followed by a wreath laying ceremony.

UCATT CONSTRUCTION WORKER STATUE

(opposite Tower Hill Tube

by Tower of London)

London

9.30am – 10.15am

Last year 69 construction workers were killed at work, the year before the death toll was 77. Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain. Despite this high death toll only around 30 per cent of companies involved in killing a construction worker are ever convicted of an offence. Despite the recent introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act it remains virtually impossible for a company director whose negligence caused the death of a worker to be jailed.

Harry Cohen MP, Jerry Swain and Liliana Alexa will be available for interview.

As a mark of respect for the workers killed last year, UCATT will be releasing 69 black balloons during the ceremony. One for every construction worker killed in 2007/8. On average at least 10 construction workers are killed in London each year.

Jerry Swain, said: “Workers are being killed on construction sites week in and week out. Most of these deaths were preventable. It is time that rogue construction bosses who don’t care about health and safety were brought to justice.”

Harry Cohen MP, said: “It is not acceptable to adopt the throw away attitude of ‘accidents happen’. A huge number of deaths and injuries in this country, and worldwide, are completely avoidable. The philosophy of light touch regulation or no regulation contributes to these deaths and injuries. Strong laws need to be put in place, and enforced, to ensure employers take their responsibility to safeguard the life of their employees seriously”.

UCATT are asking as many people as possible to attend the event. For construction workers unable to attend they are asking that they observe a one minute silence at their place of work.

UCATT are campaigning for the Government and the Health and Safety Executive to provide a far higher level of resources to ensure that construction sites are regularly inspected and that there should be a zero tolerance approach to health and safety breaches. UCATT also support the introduction of statutory director’s duties which would force companies to appoint a director to take direct responsibility for health and safety issues.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

UCATT To Lead Workers Memorial Day Commemorations

UCATT’s London South East Region will be leading commemorations for Workers Memorial Day on 28^th April.

A ceremony will take place from 9.30am to 10.15am on 28^th April at The Building Worker Statue on Tower Hill, next to the Tower of London. Speakers will include Harry Cohen MP, UCATT London Regional Secretary Jerry Swain and Tony O’Brien, National Secretary of the Construction Safety Campaign.

For more details of the event a flyer is available for download by clicking here.

Asbestos campaign launch in Barking and Dagenham

Jon Cruddas MP will launch UCATT postcard campaign to overturn the Law Lords decision to block compensation for victims of pleural plaques.

Mr Cruddas, UCATT activists and asbestos campaigners will launch the campaign in Barking.

The photo opportunity will be on:

MONDAY 10 MARCH

BARKING TOWN HALL

1 TOWN SQUARE

BARKING

IG11 7LU

MIDDAY 12pm

Mr Cruddas and Jerry Swain regional secretary for UCATT’s London and South East region, will be available for interview following the photocall.

Pleural plaques is scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and long term exposure to asbestos. Victims of pleural plaques have a greatly increased risk of contracting mesothelioma the fatal lung cancer.

Barking and Dagenham has one of the highest levels of asbestos victims in England. In particular the area has a very high level of female sufferers of asbestos related diseases. Asbestos diseases are more usually associated with male workers.

Pleural plaque victims can experience a number of debilitating mental and physical conditions caused by their injuries. One in seven of those diagnosed with pleural plaques will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma kills 2,000 people a year. The number of people developing mesothelioma is set to increase in the future and is likely to peak in 2020 with 20,000 people dying from the disease. Last year 164 people died in the London region from mesothelioma.

Jerry Swain UCATT’s London and South East regional secretary, said: “The Law Lords decision was outrageous and is a total injustice. Thousands of workers have needlessly been exposed to asbestos by callous bosses, who did not care about their future welfare. These workers deserve compensation.”

In October last year the Law Lords ruled that pleural plaques would no longer be a compensatable illness. The decision has been widely criticised inside and outside Parliament. Campaigners have since been calling on Jack Straw the Secretary of State for Justice, to introduce fresh legislation, to overturn the Law Lords ruling. It is estimated the ruling will save insurance companies over £1 billion in compensation payments.

A copy of the postcard which can be sent directly to the Ministry of Justice calling for the Law Lords decision to be overturned is available for DOWNLOAD HERE.