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UCATT To Have Major Presence In Yorkshire on Workers Memorial Day

Construction union UCATT will have a major presence at a series of events throughout Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to mark this year’s International Workers Memorial Day on Wednesday 28^th April.

Rob Morris Regional official for Yorkshire will be speaking at a Worker Memorial Day Event at Sheffield Town Hall at 12.30pm.

Wednesday 28^th April

Sheffield Town Hall

12.30pm

In Hull UCATT official Dave Oglesby will be attending the planting of a remembrance tree at an event along with Lord Mayor and Council Leaders and local business people. Also in attendance will be members of the family of Ray Jessop a local UCATT member who was killed in an accident in December 2009. The event will take place at The Workers Memorial in Queens Gardens at 11.30am.

In Bradford, UCATT official Mark Martin will be at a Workers Memorial event taking place in Bradford City Centre, BD1 1TR at 12pm (midday).

In Cleethorpes UCATT Regional council member John McIntyre will be laying a wreath on behalf of the union. The event will take place at 3pm at the Workers Memorial in the Pier Gardens, Alexander Road.

Other Workers Memorial Day events where UCATT will be in attendance include:

Immingham, the Workers Memorial in the grounds of the War Memorial, Pelham Road, at 10.30am

Grimsby the Workers Memorial in the grounds of the War Memorial, Nunn’s Corner, at 1pm.

Scunthorpe, Workers Memorial at North Lincolnshire Council, Pittwood House, Ashby Street DN16 1AB at 12pm (midday).

Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain. Last year there were 53 construction fatalities, including 6 in Yorkshire.

Steve Murphy, Regional Secretary of UCATT Yorkshire, said: “Every workplace death is an individual tragedy. Workers Memorial Day is when workers come together to remember colleagues who were killed and injured at work and is an opportunity for all workers to renew demands for safer working conditions.”

UCATT are asking workers who are unable to attend any of the official events to hold a two-minute silence at 12pm in memory of their fellow workers. Many of the main construction contractors in Yorkshire have agreed to this request.

UCATT are campaigning for the Government commissioned report into construction fatalities by Rita Donaghy, One Death is Too Many to be implemented in its entirety. The report’s 29 recommendations to improve safety include extending the Gangmasters Act to construction and the introduction of statutory director’s duties.

This year’s events are especially important, as it is the first year that the Government has officially recognised Workers Memorial Day.

UCATT represents 125,000 members employed in the construction industry throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

UCATT Development Officer (Yorkshire)

There is a vacancy for an official within the Yorkshire Region of the union and we are seeking applications for the post of Development Officer.

The suitable candidate must be able to recruit new members and develop the organisation of the union in strategic areas. The candidate must possess an understanding of the key issues facing the union, its members and the construction industry.

The post is initially offered on a twelve-month contract, subject to periodic performance review, and there may be future employment prospects for the right candidate.

The starting salary will depend on experience but the band for a Development Officer is from £23,637 with incremental scales rising to £28,618 per annum (currently under review) and the use of a union vehicle.

To apply for the position please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to request an application form.

Deadline for applications is Friday 26^th March 2010.

UCATT Wins £1.5 Million For Former Hull Caravan Workers

Construction union UCATT have won a major employment tribunal case worth £1.5 million on behalf of former employees at Hull based caravan company Atlas Holiday Homes. The case involved 333 former employees of the company, who lost their jobs when the company went into administration.

The workers were forced to seek compensation via an employment tribunal becuase when they were made redundant in December 2008, they were not given a 90 day redundancy consultation period, required by law. On Friday January 29 the Employment Tribunal ruled in favour of the former workers.

Dave Oglesby the UCATT official for Hull, said: “It’s been a great victory for us in terms of getting justice for our members and demonstrates the benefit of being a trade union member.”

The workers involved are entitled to a total of nearly £4,550 each. However as the company is in administration the workers will initially be able to claim a maximum of eight week’s compensation worth £2,800 from a Government funded scheme.

UCATT represents 125,000 members employed in the construction industry throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

UCATT Calls for Urgent Inquiry Following Death of Worker in Hull

Construction union UCATT are calling for an urgent inquiry following the death of a worker in Hull on Tuesday (December 8). Raymond Jessop 53, died after falling from a ladder while engaged in painting a council property in Cranswick Grove, Hull. Mr Jessop was employed, by Kier Building Maintenance which is responsible for the repair and maintenance of 10,000 council properties in the city.

Inquiries by UCATT have discovered that Mr Jessop was working on a major project repainting 170 properties. A UCATT official has visited the site and noted there was sufficient room for scaffolding to be erected or a mobile platform to have been used, rather than having to rely on a possibly unstable ladder.

The use of ladders for this project is at odds with the advice on ladder use provided by the Health and Safety Executive, which states that ladders should only be used “for low risk, short duration work”.

UCATT officials have also obtained health and safety steering group minutes where a health and safety representative from Kier, originally recommended that the painting was performed using scaffolding but it was eventually decided to use ladders because the workers were not trained in using tower scaffolding units and “cost was an issue”.

Derek Johnson Regional Secretary for UCATT Yorkshire, said: “All the evidence indicates that a decision to use ladders was taken on grounds of cost. This decision has had fatal consequences and a worker has died. It is essential that such a tragedy is never allowed to happen again, Kier’s, Hull City council and all contractors must change their policies to ensure that ladders, are not relied on when undertaking such large scale painting projects.”

UCATT also intend to raise concerns that workers were being pressurised to finish the project in the belief that delays would lead to a loss of pay.

The HSE estimate that on average 12 workers are killed every year after falling from ladders. Last year (2008/9) 53 construction workers were killed and falls were the most common type of fatality, causing 21 deaths.