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UCATT Brands Planned Nottinghamshire County Council Job Losses As Unnecessary

Construction union UCATT have warned that plans by Nottinghamshire County Council to cut 250 jobs are unnecessary and will inevitably result in far poorer services for all of Nottinghamshire.

UCATT members who now fear for their futures, predominantly work in the council’s highways and street lighting divisions or are employed in undertaking vital maintenance work on council buildings

Steve Murphy, Regional Secretary for UCATT’s Midlands Region, said: “These cuts are entirely unacceptable and unnecessary, there is no way that this level of redundancies will not affect frontline services, resulting in local people receiving far poorer services in the future.”

UCATT also fears that the redundancies announced at Nottinghamshire County Council will be the first of many as the cuts being brought in by the ConDem Government begin to bite.

Mr Murphy added: “UCATT is entirely committed to fighting for our members jobs and maintaining services. Cuts always hit the poorest and most vulnerable in society the hardest and they must be vigorously opposed.”

High Handed Management Causes Industrial Strife at Nottingham Painters

Over 30 members of construction union UCATT are today (Wednesday July 7) involved in a stand off with Nottingham painting company Programmed, after management refused to allow workers to be represented by a union official.

The workers involved are currently faced with redundancy and were today due to have one to one meetings with management about their futures. The workers were due to be represented by their local UCATT official. However when the official arrived at the premises the company refused him access and said that he could not accompany workers in their redundancy interviews.

The company’s address is:

Programmed

Ryan Business Park

Radford Road

Nottingham

NG7 7EF

Steve Murphy, Regional Secretary for UCATT in the Midlands, said: “The attitude of Programmed management is shocking. Our official was present to ensure that all our members were properly represented and treated fairly. To try to block the workers access to their union official at this highly stressful time is unprecedented.”

The workforce is now refusing to attend any redundancy interviews without having access to union representation.

Mr Murphy, added: “I urge Programmed management to see sense and to allow our official to attend the redundancy meetings to ensure that the workforce is treated fairly and the correct procedures are followed.”

UCATT Seeks Urgent Intervention To Prevent Birmingham Housing Jobs Cull

Construction union UCATT are calling for Birmingham Council to urgently intervene to prevent the loss of a third of council housing maintenance workers’ jobs in the city.

UCATT has learned that two housing contractors Willmott Dixon and Mears who both hold housing maintenance contracts with Birmingham council are planning to make large-scale job cuts. UCATT understands that Willmott Dixon intend to make 151 staff redundant, while the figure for Mears is 51. The job losses are on top of 50 workers recently made redundant from capital projects.

The drastic job cuts will result in only basic repairs being able to be conducted on Birmingham’s housing stock and will lead to the long term deterioration of the properties. Modernisation and upgrading of the properties will also be seriously affected. The job losses will affect both the north and south of the city.

Steve Murphy, Regional Secretary for UCATT Midlands region, said: “The extent of the proposed job losses is entirely unacceptable. It will simply be impossible for the remaining staff to maintain the existing level of service. Tenants will suffer. Repairs times will increase and the quality of the service will decrease.”

UCATT further understands that Cllr John Lyons the housing portfolio holder of Birmingham Council has not been consulted about the excessive job losses.

Mr Murphy, added: “These companies entered into contracts to provide a certain standard of work. The proposed job losses mean those standards cannot be met. It is essential that Cllr Lyons intervenes to ensure that standards are met and tenants do not suffer.”

 UCATT To Have Major Presence In Midlands On Workers Memorial Day

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

Steve Murphy Regional Secretary UCATT Midlands will be unveiling a plaque at the Kings Mill Hospital Site in Mansfield in memory of workers killed in the workplace. The plaque which has been jointly funded by UCATT and Skanska will read: “This plaque is to commemorate International Workers Memorial Day, April 28^th, Remember the Dead Fight for the Living”

Tuesday 28^th April

Kings Mill Hospital

Kings Mill Road East

Sutton in Ashfield

Notts

12pm midday

Neil Vernon, UCATT Executive Council member for the Midlands will be speaking at a service to be held at St Phillip’s Churchyard, Colemore Row, Birmingham B32 at 12.30pm.

UCATT regional official Wayne Dickens will be speaking at two Building Schools for the Future sites in Birmingham at Stockland Green, B23 7JH and Gordon Avenue B19 2JL.

On Friday 30^th April, UCATT regional official Shaun Lee will be speaking at a Workers Memorial Day event at Shirebrook Market, Shirebrook NG20 at 10.30am.

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

Steve Murphy, Regional Secretary of UCATT Midlands, 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 the Midlands 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