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Asbestos Activists Take Campaign To David Miliband’s Constituency

Members of construction union UCATT will this week extend their campaign to win justice for victims of pleural plaques by campaigning in the South Shields constituency of foreign secretary David Miliband.

South Shields has the highest number of asbestos deaths in the northeast and the fourth highest number in the United Kingdom. Many deaths were traditionally associated with shipbuilding and other heavy industries. Construction workers are now at greatest risk from asbestos, due to the material’s heavy usage in buildings.

UCATT campaigners will be in:

KING STREET

SOUTH SHIELDS

From 9.30am to 12pm

Pleural plaques are scarring of the lung caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. The scars become visible on x rays following calcification. Pleural plaques cause limited physical symptoms, however victims suffer severe mental distress. Pleural plaques sufferers have a greatly increased chance of contracting the incurable lung disease mesothelioma.

Compensation for pleural plaques is a relatively low financial amount. However if a pleural plaque victim then develops the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma, the relevant insurers will have already been identified, meaning that compensation will be paid in a victim’s lifetime. If the insurers have not already been identified this is unlikely to occur.

Last October the Law Lords overturned over 20 years of common law and ruled that pleural plaques should no longer be a compensational illness. Their decision is understood to be worth £1.4 billion to the insurance industry.

Since that judgement asbestos campaigners led by UCATT have been attempting to get the Government to overturn the House of Lords decision. UCATT organised a highly successful postcard campaign, with thousands of people writing to the Ministry of Justice to get the ban overturned.

Last Wednesday (July 9) the Government released a consultation document on pleural plaques. While UCATT was pleased that the Government was actively considering the issue, they were disappointed that the document says the “Government is not minded” to overturn the Law Lords decision. This potentially places the Government at odds with the Scottish Parliament, who have already brought forward a Bill to overturn the Law Lords judgement. UCATT fears that a postcode lottery could be created with pleural plaque victims in Scotland receiving full compensation, while those in England are given less recompense.

Rather than overturn the Law Lords the Government appears inclined to create a scheme for asbestos victims. Such a scheme would not identify liability and the most severe cases would not receive adequate recompense.

In an attempt to place further pressure on the Government to overturn the Law Lords ruling, UCATT have decided to campaign in the seats of Cabinet Ministers where there is a high level of asbestos illness. On July 18 UCATT will be targeting the seats of David Milliband and also the Barrow-in-Furness constituency of business secretary John Hutton.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “While I welcome that the Government is seriously examining this issue, it would be unfair and intolerable if pleural plaque victims north of the border received compensation, while those in England did not.”

Last year other 2,000 people died of mesothelioma the figure is set to increase further in future.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235 or John Scott on 0789 4414615

UCATT Slams Grasping Sub-Contractor In Newcastle Hospital Dispute

Construction union UCATT have slammed ceiling company Pan Interiors after they carried out threats to terminate workers' contracts and replace them with migrant workers on lower wages.

The workers concerned have been working for Pan Interiors on the multi million pound Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle.

Last week workers received letters informing them that they were being given one week’s notice that their contracts were being terminated.

When UCATT contacted the company’s managing director Peter Fernberg, they were told that the workers would have their contracts terminated if they did not agree to a pay cut, he was preparing to replace them with migrant workers and the reason was to reduce labour costs.

UCATT had hoped that the company had agreed to delay the terminations while talks proceeded but at least half the workers on site received letters on Saturday (21 June) that they were being dismissed with immediate effect.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “The actions of this company are despicable. They are prepared to jettison their dedicated workers and quite openly exploit migrant workers, in order to save a few pounds. I hope the companies director’s can sleep at night.”

UCATT are now speaking directly to the main contractor Laing O’Rourke and the client in a attempt to force the company to reinstate the workers, or that Pan Interiors are removed from the site.

Mr Ritchie, added: “Construction companies have got to learn it is wrong to exploit vulnerable migrant workers and they will not get away with this on public sector contracts.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

Donation Funds UCATT Northern Region’s Health and Safety Award

A donation given to the union by the widow of a former UCATT member has been used to fund a prestigious health and safety award.

Mrs C King received a legal aid payment on behalf of her late husband Andrew who sadly died of mesothelioma

Mrs King donated part of the settlement to UCATT’s Northern Region.

The region decided that the donation should be used to pay for the region’s health and safety award.

The health and safety award is given to the region’s Safety Rep of the year.

This year UCATT Northern Region have given the award to Brother Bob Wilson in recognition of his committed work on health and safety.

UCATT Wins Tribunal Case For Apprentice Sacked For Contacting Union

Construction union UCATT have won over £5,000 at an employment tribunal for an apprentice who was sacked for contacting the union about his employment concerns.

Liam Irving was employed by Gosforth Employment Management Services (GEMS) as an apprentice carpenter. In November 2007 Mr Irving who lives in North Shields contacted UCATT’s Northern Region about some employment concerns.

The regional officials then raised the matter with the company's personnel department. The personnel department promised to pass the matter on to the owner of the company Colin Watts. Coincidentally on the same day, Mr Irving was due to be picked up for work by Mr Watts, who failed to arrive. Mr Irving phoned Mr Watts who informed him that he had been sacked for contacting UCATT.

Despite exhausting the grievance and appeal procedures Mr Watts refused to reinstate Mr Irving. At which point Mr Irving lodged an employment tribunal case for unfair dismissal for trade union activity.

Earlier this spring the employment tribunal found in favour of Mr Irving and awarded him just over £5,000 in compensation.

Mr Irving, said: “Had it not been for UCATT’s support and legal back up then I would have been snookered and GEMS would have got away with this. I am only a young apprentice who was not earning a lot of money. Had I not joined UCATT I would not have been able to pursue my claim – I could not have afforded to take the case on.”

The Northern Region of UCATT have a long held policy of encouraging apprentices to join the union. Sadly, many apprentices are poorly treated by employers. They are paid below agreed minimum pay rates and are often required to perform inappropriate tasks with inadequate training and supervision.

John Scott, regional secretary of UCATT’s Northern Region, said: “Too many employers take the attitude that just because apprentices are young they can be mistreated. We are determined to ensure that apprentices are aware that UCATT is here for all construction workers and that age is immaterial.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235