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Midlands Region Holds Highly Successful Weekend School

The UCATT Midlands Region held a very successful weekend school on the 29^th and 30^th November.

In total 21 shop stewards, many of them newly appointed took part in the event. They were joined at the school by Alan Ritchie, UCATT General Secretary, Steve Murphy the Regional Secretary for UCATT Midlands Region, Neal Vernon the UCATT Executive Council member for the Midlands, Midlands regional officials and a member of the front office staff in the Midlands region.

Subjects covered and discussed at the school included: employment law, redundancy matters, the right to representation at work and issues surrounding short time working.

Steve Murphy has reported that he was particularly pleased that the shop stewards in attendance came from a wide breadth of the industry including: housebuilding, infrastructure, general construction, local authorities and outsourced local authorities.

The Midlands Region are planning to build on the success of the weekend school by holding two further events next year. The region are also in the process of establishing an Activist Academy.

If you are a shop steward/safety representative in the Midlands Region and are interested in attending one of these events in the future then contact Steve Murphy at the Midlands Regional office on: 01332 203 656. 

Decrease In Construction Deaths In The Midlands Must Not Reduce The Drive For Safer Sites

Research undertaken by construction union UCATT has revealed that construction deaths in the Midlands fell substantially last year.

In total there were five deaths in 2007/8, a reduction from 11 deaths in 2006/7. Deaths decreased to a greater extent in the East Midlands, 1 person was killed in 2007/8 compared to 5 the previous year. In the West Midlands deaths decreased from 7 in 2006/7 to 4 in 2007/8.

Nationally the number of construction deaths decreased slightly in 2007/8 with 72 people being killed at work on construction sites, compared to 79 in 2006/7.

Steve Murphy, Regional Secretary of UCATT Midlands Region, said: “Any reduction in deaths must be seen as a positive step forward. However five families lost loved ones in the region last year, each death is an individual tragedy.”

Since 2002 the number of enforcement notices and prosecutions issued by the Health and Safety Executive has been declining. The decline in enforcement activity has been caused by budget cuts and a reduction in the number of frontline inspectors.

The industry has also become increasingly casualised, with a large increase in the number of workers supplied through employment agencies and Gangmasters. This has resulted in a large number of inexperienced workers being placed on construction sites.

Mr Murphy, added: “Although deaths have decreased I fear that this is mainly due to luck rather than any conscious improvement by the majority of employers to enhance safety provisions. Too many employers are willing to risk workers lives and do not take adequate safety precautions.”

Construction is the most dangerous occupation in Britain, analysis shows that nationally the most likely causes of deaths were: Fall from height (23 deaths), hit by a moving or flying object (16), electrocution (10).

It is estimated that management failure is a contributory factor in at least 70 per cent of construction deaths. However only 30 per cent of companies are prosecuted following the death of a construction worker.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

UCATT Wins Jobs Back For Young Birmingham Workers

Construction union UCATT have succeeded in winning jobs back for five young workers employed by Mitie Property Services.

The workers who are carpenters and plasters all successfully completed apprenticeships with Mitie in July 2007 and were given a further 12-month temporary contract. During this time they were due to receive further training. However the training did not materialise and Mitie decided to terminate their contracts in July 2008, arguing the workers were not sufficiently qualified.

UCATT took the matter to an Employment Tribunal, which led to the intervention of ACAS. Following detailed negotiations UCATT won the argument for the workers reinstatement. They have now been offered a contract of employment and a £6,000 pay increase compared to their previous earnings.

The five workers all returned to work last week.

Steve Murphy, regional secretary for UCATT’s Midlands Region, said: “This case demonstrates to young workers the clear advantages of joining a union. I would like to recognise the hard work of UCATT’s shop steward at Mitie Property Services, who has assisted these workers all the way through their battle for reinstatement and fair pay.”

Mitie Property Services operates the maintenance and repairs services for Birmingham City Council’s housing stock.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

UCATT Uncovers Appalling Systematic Abuse of Vulnerable Workers on PFI Hospital

Construction union UCATT have unearthed a case of appalling systematic abuse of vulnerable migrant workers on a PFI hospital in Mansfield. UCATT have obtained the workers pay slips, which reveal that some workers took home just £8.80, after working a 40 hour week.

Dry lining subcontracting company Produm employed the dozen Lithuanian workers. The workers were paid below agreed minimum rates for the site operated by Skanska, did not receive overtime (some workers worked in excess of 70 hours and took home less than £100) and were charged excessive deductions for rent, tools and utility bills. It is understood that many of these charges were unlawful.

UCATT were only able to uncover the extent of the abuse after some of the workers stopped being paid altogether with the company currently owing some workers five week’s pay. The workers were initially scared of approaching the union because the company also provided their accommodation.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “At UCATT we have been building up a large fact file of abuses of ganged workers. This case is the worst we have seen, these workers were virtually destitute. The fact it has occurred on a PFI site, using taxpayers money is scandalous.”

Early last week UCATT held a meeting with the companies concerned including the main sub-contractor Baris who had recruited Produm. At the meeting there was agreement that workers would receive back pay for the correct level of pay, would have excessive deductions from wages repaid and other enhancements. However following the meeting Baris reneged on their commitments.

It has also emerged that the workers insurance was actually through a separate company William DryWall owned by the director of Produm (Mr Petrikas). This company has gone into receivership and the workers have been working without insurance protection.

Steve Murphy regional secretary for the UCATT Midlands region, said: “This is a terrible indictment for the construction industry. This is a well-organised site where we are generally able to protect construction workers from exploitation. We will be able to eventually get a fair resolution for these workers. What is truly frightening is to think what happens on the many unorganised sites in our industry.”

UCATT has been running a long campaign to have the Gangmasters Licensing Act extended to the construction industry. In order to ensure that employment agencies/gangmasters pass certain minimum standards before they are able to supply labour. Without such legislation the only way to uncover workplace abuses is after they occur. The issue is likely to be a key issue at Labour’s forthcoming National Policy Forum next month, in the run-up to the writing of Labour’s next election manifesto.

Recently Business Secretary John Hutton made a speech in which he appeared to rule out Labour passing any further employment protection legislation. Mr Hutton’s department the BERR has been at the forefront of moves to block the extension of the Gangmasters Act.

Mr Ritchie, added: “This case proves just how wrong John Hutton is. If after reviewing this case he still does not believe that there needs to be greater employment protections then he should seriously reconsider why he is in politics.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on  07802329235 or Steve Murphy 0789 4414595

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

Notes to editors: The workers were only receiving £6 an hour when the site agreement said that they should receive a minimum of £7.31 an hour the lowest rate under the Construction Industry Joint Council, National Working Rule Agreement. Nor did the workers receive overtime which should have been paid for any hours in excess of 39 worked.

The site in question is the Kingsmill Hospital Site in Mansfield. The existing hospital is being knocked down and rebuilt. The project is worth £600 million