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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

International Workers Memorial Day Event In The North East

Construction union UCATT are holding a series of events in the North East to mark International Workers Memorial Day on Monday 28 April.

The union will be holding a wreath laying ceremony at the Junction of the A1 western bypass and the A69. The spot contains a memorial plaque to Joe Willis a UCATT member who was killed by a reversing lorry while building the road in the late 1980’s

JOE WILLIS PLAQUE

JUNCTION OF THE A1 WESTERN BYPASS AND A69

8.30am

The workforce at Vesuvius based at the Corus Steel Plant in Redcar will hold a two minute silence at 1pm on Monday 28^th April. On Saturday 12 April Kristian Norris a 29 year old bricklayer and UCATT member employed by Vesuvius was killed in an accident at the site.

UCATT have got agreement the workforce at the following site will hold a 2 minutes silence at 11am:

AMEC, Laing O’Rourke , Carrillion, McAlpine and Stobbart - (BNFL site Cumbria).

Tolent, Nuttals - ICI Wilton

Coast & Country, -Redcar

McAlpines, Newcastle Housing, – Hexham

Taylor Wimpey, Chalres Church, Persimmon, Bellway, Kendal Cross (various sites throughout the region).

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.

John Scott the regional secretary for UCATT’s Northern Region will be available for interview

John Scott, said: “International Workers Memorial Day is the opportunity to remember the dead but also fight for the living. In all cases of death in the workplace, individual directors should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted if negligent.”

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 Calls For Added Vigilance After Tragic Death of Steelworker

Construction union UCATT have sent their condolences to the family of a young worker killed in the early hours of Saturday morning at the Corus plant on Teeside.

Kristian Norris was a refractory bricklayer employed by Vesuvius to perform maintenance at the Corus factory on Teesside. Mr Norris 29, a father of two and a UCATT member, was killed at about 3am Saturday morning at Corus’ Lackenby plant.

John Scott, regional secretary for UCATT’s Northern region, said: “UCATT sends its deepest sympathies to Kristin Norris’ family. The death of any worker is tragic but particularly so when they were so young.”

It remains unclear exactly how Mr Norris was killed . Cleveland Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the incident.

Mr Scott, added: “Mr Norris’ death once again emphasised that you can never have too high a level of health and safety at work. No matter how good companies believe health and safety levels are there can always be improvements. We must all do more to ensure that there are not similar tragedies in the future.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235