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UCATT Wales and South West Regional Secretary Elected to Welsh TUC Executive

Nick Blundell the regional secretary of the Wales and South West Region of UCATT, has been elected onto the Executive of the Wales TUC.

Mr Blundell has pledged to use his position to increase the awareness of problems experienced by all construction workers throughout Wales.

Development Officer vacancies

UCATT has two vacancies for Development Officers. One officer will be based in the regional office in Cardiff, servicing the Bristol area. The other officer will be based in the Plymouth sub-office and will be expected on occasion (weekly/fortnightly) to travel to the regional office in Cardiff.

The suitable candidates must be able to recruit new members and develop the organisation of UCATT. The successful candidate must possess an understanding of the key issues facing the union, its members and the Construction Industry in general.

The posts are initially offered on a 12-month contract, subject to periodic performance review, with a view to permanent employment for the right candidate.

The starting salary will depend on experience but the band for a Development Officer is from £22,066.72 with incremental scales increasing to £26,715.99 per annum (reviewed annually in January) plus the use of a union vehicle. Further career opportunities will be available subject to performance.

Please send a CV and a covering letter to:

The General Secretary, UCATT House, 177 Abbeville Road, London SW4 9RL

Asbestos campaign launch in Wales

Huw-Irranca Davies MP will launch UCATT Wales campaign to overturn the Law Lords decision to block compensation for victims of pleural plaques.

Mr Irranca Davies, UCATT activists and asbestos campaigners will launch the campaign outside the National Assembly building in Cardiff.

The photo opportunity will be on:

FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY

OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING

CARDIFF

CF99 1NA

AT 12pm

Sufferers of asbestos illnesses, Mr Irranca Davies and Nick Blundell UCATT’s regional secretary for Wales, 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.

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.

Nick Blundell, UCATT’s regional secretary for Wales and the South West, said: “Many workers were forced to work with asbestos even though their bosses knew the dangers they were facing. The very least that should happen is that they should receive compensation for their injuries.”

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.

Mr Irranca Davies has a long history of involvement on asbestos issues and is a key figure in the South Wales Asbestos Support Group.

UCATT warns North Wales tenants on dangers of stock transfer

Construction union UCATT are warning council tenants in two North Wales councils to think very carefully before voting for stock transfer.

Both Flintshire and Gwynedd councils look set to recommend that their council stock be transferred, later this year. However neither scheme will go ahead unless a majority of tenants vote for transfer.

There are 8,000 council tenants in Flintshire and 4,000 in Gwynedd.

UCATT have a great deal of experience of stock transfers throughout Britain. While councils spend a great deal of money on trying to persuade tenants to vote yes, they are far more reticent providing information on potential pitfalls.

UCATT have experienced many problems following previous stock transfers, including: steep rises in rents, huge rises in salaries to existing managers who are transferred to the new housing organisation, promises of new kitchens and bathrooms never materialising and swingeing cuts in the housing workforce which effects the repairs and maintenance service.

Ren Davies, UCATT regional officer for the North West and North Wales said: “Councils produce glossy brochures which suggest that stock transfer is some kind of utopia. UCATT have dealt with far too many cases where the truth is far uglier.”

UCATT have been at the forefront of calls for the Government to introduce the “fourth option” for council housing. This would allow councils to directly borrow money themselves in order to pay for vitally needed repairs and improvements to council housing.