ucatt.info - UCATT North West

Local Government unions led by construction union UCATT will mount a vigorous campaign in opposition to plans by Flintshire County Council to sell off its housing stock.

The Independent run council is beginning the process of selling off its council stock and intends to ballot tenants on the issue later this year. The council currently has 8,000 housing units and there are over 3,200 applicants on the council’s housing waiting list.

Unions are opposed to moves to sell off Flintshire’s council housing as previous sell-offs in other areas have resulted in increased rents, cuts in tenants rights and massive decreases in repair and improvement programmes.

Ren Davies, UCATT regional official for North Wales, said: “The sell-off of Flintshire council housing will be bad news for existing tenants and will be disastrous for families needing a home in the future. A sell-off will result in housing services being cut and waiting lists increasing.”

UCATT and the other local government unions (UNISON, UNITE and GMB) believe that Flintshire Council’s decision to push ahead with the sale of its council housing stock is perverse. The decision has come at a time when the Wales Assembly has recently launched a new social housing strategy and is moving away from a policy of housing stock transfer.

Unions are opposed to moves to sell off Flintshire’s council housing as previous sell-offs have resulted in increased rents, cuts in tenants rights and serious decreases in repair and improvement programmes.

UCATT are also contacting new Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones, who it is understood is somewhat sceptical of housing stock transfers.

Mr Davies added: “Rather than looking to sell off its housing stock, Flintshire council should be forward looking and be building new council properties to meet local housing need.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

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

UCATT Warns That a Slight Decrease in Construction Deaths in the North West Must Not Lead to Complacency on Safety

Construction union UCATT have warned that a slight reduction in construction deaths in the North West of England must not lead to a complacent attitude regarding safety.

Research undertaken by UCATT has discovered that there were five construction deaths in the North West in 2008/9. In 2007/8 there were six construction workers killed in the region.

The number of construction deaths in the United Kingdom fell from 72 in 2007/8 to 53 in 2008/9, a decrease of 26 per cent. The decline was principally due to the recession, which has led to a steep drop in construction output and resulted in A large number of construction workers being laid off.

Construction remains the most dangerous industry in Britain. The industry is highly casualised. Many workers do not have contracts of employment, regularly move between employers and/or are bogusly self-employed. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of workers being supplied to construction companies through employment agencies and gangmasters.

George Guy, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s North West Region, said: “The reduction in construction deaths in the region should be welcomed. However five deaths remains five too many. It is essential that everyone involved in the construction industry does not allow themselves to become complacent when it comes to safety.”

Further analysis of the national data on fatalities shows that the most likely cause of death remains falls. In 2008/9 there were 21 deaths caused by falls, 40% of all deaths. The second highest number of deaths were caused by people being hit by a moving or falling object, this accounted for 5 deaths, 9% of the overall total.

UCATT to Stage Manchester Demonstration in Support of Blacklisting Victims

Construction union UCATT will be holding a demonstration in support of victims of blacklisting outside Manchester Employment Tribunal on Tuesday 24 November. The tribunal will be hearing the initial cases of blacklisted construction workers.

Tuesday 24^th November

Manchester Employment Tribunal

Alexandra House

14-22 Parsonage

Manchester

M3 2JA

9.30am

In March 2009 it was revealed by the Information Commissioner that a company, the Consulting Association, run by Ian Kerr, was operating a secret blacklist containing the names and details of over 3,000 construction workers. Over 40 major construction companies were using its services to blacklist workers.

The Manchester Employment Tribunal on Tuesday 24 November will hear the cases of the first group of workers who have tabled cases against the construction companies who blacklisted them. The Employment Tribunal Service has grouped together many of the blacklisting tribunal cases and has directed the Manchester Employment Tribunal to initially hear the cases.

The decision to group the cases at the Manchester Tribunal is symbolic, a large number of UCATT members in the North West were blacklisted.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: “Hundreds of construction workers had their lives ruined by the blacklisters. Many of them were forced out of the construction industry. This is the first opportunity workers have had to win justice from the construction companies who blacklisted them.”

In 1999 the Government passed legislation which outlawed blacklisting however the necessary regulations were not introduced. The Government have now consulted on introducing anti-blacklisting regulations. It is anticipated that they will publish new regulations outlawing blacklisting in the near future.

George Guy, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s North West Region, said: “A large number of UCATT’s activists in the North West were blacklisted, these workers deserve justice. Everyone involved in blacklisting must be brought to book.”

John Winstanley a longstanding UCATT member from Liverpool, who was repeatedly blacklisted throughout his working life and whose case is being heard on Tuesday will be available for interview on the day and by arrangement in advance.

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

Notes to Editors: Due to blacklisting not being illegal Mr Kerr was charged with data protection offences as he was not registered to hold such information. He pleaded guilty and was fined £5,000.

UCATT To Demonstrate As Blacklister Is Sentenced In Crown Court

Construction union UCATT will be holding a demonstration outside Knutsford Crown Court on Thursday 16 July, when construction blacklister Ian Kerr of the Consulting Association, will be sentenced.

Thursday 16^th July

Knutsford Crown Court

Sessions House

Toft Road

Knutsford

Cheshire

WA16 0PB

10.30am

In March it was revealed by the Information Commissioner that Mr Kerr’s company, the Consulting Association, was operating a secret blacklist containing the names and details of over 3,000 construction workers. Over 40 major construction companies used its services to blacklist workers.

Much of the information contained on the blacklist related to a worker’s union membership. In particular workers who had taken on the role of a health and safety representative or had been a whistleblower on dangerous sites were targeted. Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain; on average six construction workers are killed a month.

In 1999 the Government passed legislation which outlawed blacklisting however the necessary regulations were never introduced. The Government are committed to introducing the required regulations this autumn.

Due to blacklisting not being illegal Mr Kerr was charged with data protection offences as he was not registered to hold such information. He has pleaded guilty.

The case was originally held at Macclesfield Magistrates Court in May, where Mr Kerr failed to appear. The magistrates agreed to transfer the case to a Crown Court because they believed that the maximum penalty they could impose a £5,000 fine was “wholly inadequate”. As the case has now been transferred to a Crown Court Mr Kerr could face an unlimited fine.

The construction companies who used Mr Kerr’s services paid an annual subscription of £3,000 and then £2.20 for each check on a worker. At his trial Mr Kerr’s solicitors argued that he was merely an employee of the Consulting Association, the issue is expected to be resolved at the sentencing hearing and could have a bearing on the scale of punishment Mr Kerr receives. If it is revealed that other individuals were involved they too could be liable for prosecution.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “Ian Kerr deserves the maximum possible fine; he ruined people’s lives. It is disappointing that he is not facing a custodial sentence. If it is proved that others were involved they must also face the full weight of the law”

George Guy, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s North West Region, said: “A large number of UCATT’s activists in the North West were blacklisted by Ian Kerr, they want justice. Everyone involved in the blacklisting must be brought to book.”

The Consulting Association blacklisted a large number of UCATT officials, activists and members.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235 , or George Guy on 07894 414625.

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