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UCATT Hold Event To Mark Workers Memorial Day

Every region of construction union UCATT have today (April 28) been involved in events to mark International Workers Memorial Day.

In London an event was held at UCATT’s statue to the Unknown Construction Worker at Tower Hill. Over 300 construction workers from sites in London were in attendance.

Speaking at the event Harry Cohen Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead read out a message of support from Gordon Brown the Prime Minister, which said that the Government would “never stop campaigning for health and safety at home and abroad.”

Mr Cohen, also said: “The prevailing attitude has to be safety first, backed by law.”

Tony O’Brien of the Construction Safety Campaign (who jointly organised the event), said: “There had been a long history of abuse of construction workers” by construction bosses summed up by the phrase “your health their wealth”.

Jerry Swain regional secretary of UCATT’s London and South East Region, made an impassioned plea for a crackdown on rogue construction bosses and said: “You should pay the penalty if you put construction workers lives at risk. We must tell the employers enough, is enough is enough.”

At the end of the ceremony a minute’s silence was held and then black balloons to commemorate every construction worker who was killed at work last year were released.

In 2007/8 69 construction workers were killed. In 2006/7 the figure was 77. Construction is by far the most dangerous industry in Britain.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235