Tuesday, 24 July 2007

Corporate Manslaughter Bill Was Hollow Victory The Fight Goes On

Construction union UCATT have pledged to keep campaigning for the imprisonment of killer bosses, after the Corporate Manslaughter Bill was finally passed by Parliament.

The Bill was a severe disappointment for UCATT as it failed to include clauses which would have allowed the imprisonment of company directors, if their negligence had led to the death of a worker.

Without such clauses in the Bill, UCATT have argued there will not be a step change in safety in the construction industry, the most dangerous industrial sector in Britain. Both the Labour Party and the TUC have policy supporting the imprisonment of negligent directors (directors duties).

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “Ultimately any legislation involving corporate manslaughter is to be welcomed. However this is a hollow victory. The legislation falls far short of Labour Party policy, passed following UCATT's motion at conference in 2006 which committed the party to campaign for director's duties and the possibility of imprisonment for negligent directors.”

Mr Ritchie, added: “The issue of director's duties will not go away because without them the construction industry will not become an appreciably safer industry. UCATT will continue to campaign for their introduction. It is the single most important piece of legislation to stop our members being killed at work”