• Join UCATT
• Login
• Register

News Archive

Regions

Vigil In Oxfordshire In Memory Of Construction Worker Killed At Work

Construction union UCATT are to hold a vigil following the recent death of a construction worker.

Construction work Altin Balla lost his fight for life last week following a major accident on August 29 while working on the Marriotts Close, Shopping Centre Development in Witney, Oxfordshire.

 It is understood that Mr Balla was crushed and trapped by steel girders while operating a cherry picker.

UCATT activists, local trade unionists and representatives from the Construction Safety Campaign will gather at 12pm on Tuesday 9^th September outside the site in Marriotts Way Witney, to hold a vigil and stage a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Mr Balla.

Deaths in the construction industry are all too prevalent. Last year (2007/8) 72 people were killed on construction sites. In (2006/7) the figure was 79. Due to pressure from UCATT’s leadership the Government is committed to hold an independent inquiry into the high number of fatalities in the construction industry.

Jerry Swain, UCATT regional secretary for London and the South East region, said: “Our deepest sympathies go to Mr Balla’s family. This tragedy yet again underlines the high number of deaths in the construction industry. It is essential we remember those killed at work in order to highlight the need to improve safety standards on all sites.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

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.