• Join UCATT
• Login
• Register

News Archive

Regions

International Workers Memorial Day Events in the Midlands

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

Steve Murphy UCATT’s Midlands Regional Secretary will be speaking at an event at Mansfield Kings Mill Hospital, where construction workers on the new hospital will stop work for a minute’s silence at 12pm

Kings Mill Hospital

Kings Mill Road East

Sutton in Ashfield

Notts

In Birmingham UCATT convenor Neal Vernon will be speaking at a Workers Memorial Day event at Birmingham Cathedral beginning at 12.30pm.

UCATT official Shaun Lee will be speaking at a Worker’s Memorial Day meeting at Leicester Town Hall beginning at 11am.

There will be an additional event involving construction workers at Mansfield Community Hospital, beginning at 12pm, where UCATT regional organiser Wayne Dickens will be speaking.

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.

Steve Murphy the regional secretary for UCATT’s Midlands Region will be available for interview

Steve Murphy, 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 directors 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 or Steve Murphy 07894414595

Birmingham Council Dispute Update

UCATT members employed by Birmingham Council will be staging a 48-hour strike on the 23 and 24 April.

The dispute concerns the council’s decision to impose new contracts on staff, without consultation. Many workers will see a substantial cut in their pay.

It had been hoped that recent talks between the local government unions and Birmingham council chiefs would mean that fresh industrial action would not be necessary.

Unfortunately the talks have not made sufficient progress and UCATT has been forced to take fresh industrial action.

Midlands Region holds successful weekend school

A group of 16 shop stewards from all sectors and all parts of the Midlands region attended a very successful weekend school last weekend (March 8-9).

Alan Ritchie UCATT general secretary, who spoke about the latest developments and achievements of the union, addressed the group. Steve Cottingham of trade union solicitors OH Parsons, spoke to those present about the latest developments concerning employment law.

The rest of the of the school was run by Steve Murphy, UCATT’s Midlands Regional Secretary and Steve Craig from the union’s education department.

The Midlands regions is intending on running a further weekend school this autumn. Members interested should contact the regional office for further details.

Asbestos campaign launch in West Midlands

Joan Walley MP will launch UCATT postcard campaign to overturn the Law Lords decision to block compensation for victims of pleural plaques.

Ms Walley, UCATT activists and asbestos campaigners will launch the campaign outside her constituency office in Burslem.

The photo opportunity will be on:

THURSDAY 6 MARCH

JOAN WALLEY’S CONSTITUENCY OFFICE

BURSLEM ENTERPRISE CENTRE

MOORLAND ROAD

BURSLEM

STAFFS

ST6 1JN

AT 4.30pm

Sufferers of asbestos illnesses, Ms Walley and Steve Murphy regional secretary for UCATT’s Midlands Region, will be available for interview following the photocall.

Pleural plaques is scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and long term exposure to asbestos. Victims of pleural plaques have a greatly increased risk of contracting mesothelioma the fatal lung cancer.

Pleural plaque victims can experience a number of debilitating mental and physical conditions caused by their injuries. One in seven of those diagnosed with pleural plaques will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma kills 2,000 people a year. The number of people developing mesothelioma is set to increase in the future and is likely to peak in 2020 with 20,000 people dying from the disease. Last year 134 people died in the West Midlands from mesothelioma.

Steve Murphy UCATT’s Midlands regional secretary, said: “Many workers were forced to work with asbestos even though their bosses knew the dangers they were facing. The very least that should happen is that they should receive compensation for their injuries.”

In October last year the Law Lords ruled that pleural plaques would no longer be a compensatable illness. The decision has been widely criticised inside and outside Parliament. Campaigners have since been calling on Jack Straw the Secretary of State for Justice to introduce fresh legislation, to overturn the Law Lords ruling. It is estimated the ruling will save insurance companies over £1 billion in compensation payments.

A copy of the postcard which can be sent directly to the Ministry of Justice calling for the Law Lords decision to be overturned is available for DOWNLOAD HERE.