Tomorrow (28th April) I will be speaking at an event in Leicester, organised by the local trades council, to mark International Workers' Memorial Day.
The Government must take serious action to combat deaths at work. Over 200 workers were fatally injured at work in the UK last year, including a 14% increase in the construction sector. In the 30 years since the Health and Safety Work Act, over 10,000 people have died at work, only 11 directors have been convicted and only 5 of those have gone to prison.
The current legislation on Corporate Manslaughter is woefully inadequate and deliberately excludes the prosecution of negligent directors. There is a consensus among the trade unions and health and safety experts that we need new legislation to improve workers' safety. A number of unions including Amicus, TGWU, UCATT and others have fought hard to raise awareness, including at a lobby of Parliament on 28th March which I attended.
Meanwhile, the Government is busy sacking staff from the Health and Safety Executive with over 1000 losing their jobs in the past three years. These workers, members of PCS, had a direct impact on workplace safety through enforcement of regulations and the provision of advice to employers. In sacking these staff, the Government's actions are nothing short of irresponsible.
At Labour Party conference, a motion was passed to toughen corporate manslaughter legislation - sadly the Government ignored this and so we have to continue our campaign to prevent more unnecessary deaths at work.
7 Comments:
They should treat this very seriously, what some companies get away with is shocking.
I know someone who is having trouble with their employer over mist from coolant in the air in the factory. Too much of it can cause asthma, respiraty diseases and it containg known carcinogens etc etc.... it's not good for you over the long term put it that way. Anyway the attitude of the management is "if you don't like it then you can leave" which is great in a town which is severely lacking in decent jobs... earning enough money to live on or possible damage to health in future.... nice choice. Just an example of how they treat people at 'part of the process' rather than human beings who would like to stay healthy!
I was employed by the NHS (last three years) on a traing contract, we were out oh a placement at a local firm who didn't supply the protective gear required.... latex gloves, ear defenders dust mask and not even good hand washing facilities.... an absolute disgrace when you're dealing with items that have come out of people's mouths and the fine material you occasionally used can cause lung disease if inhaled.... all to save a few pound!
People should not be allowed to get away with bad practice!!
Jon
John,
Another way that you could show your support for trade unionists in danger would be to sign Early Day Motion 727 on trade union rights in Colombia. Over 140 Labour MPs (including all of those listed on the site as endorsing you) have already signed it. I'm really surprised that you havn't done so yet???
I always think the Blairites failure to bring in a decent corporate manslaughter law by now underlines the failure of their whole project )they've had TEN years and can't even do this;( they just keep watering it down); even though the left generally and the trade unions have constantly campaigned for a decent law on this for anyone who dosen't know. If they can't even have a law for employers committing corporate maslaughter what hope for employment rights etc - so much for fairness;equality etc under the New Labour government- we need a real Labour government led by John and we need it now if we are to achieve anything we wanted to do when we got rid of the Tories to make a fairer sociery for all!
By the way to the blogger who was pleaed that John didn't want to be called "Mr" I would have thought that all politicians should be approachable like this and not stand on ceremony; what kind of leader are they if they do? I read recently that Mrs. Thatcher only read a press digest instead of the daily papers so she missed much of the criticism directed at her - she said she wouldn't read it as such things do hurt - no wonder she survived so long in a bubble of isolation like this!!-and of course she was usually very UNAPPROACHABLE (or with no sense of humour!) - we don't want politicians like this and there shouldn't be any these days!
Another thing that's really annoyed me about the Blairites regime is the fob off letters you get if you do write to them about a policy matter even as a party member and someone knowing the right government departments to direct my letters. I wrote to the relevant health minister about improving the national milk bank service once and eventually got a (fob off) letter back from NHS LONDON region!; to give just one example.
woke up from kip on sofa to see John on Newsnight yest which was fine - good that they always iv you now on anti-fatcat issues -tho shame it was Fri and not Mon-Thurs as more people would have seen it.
I also can't see you at Question Time on Weds John - get in camera!! Perhaps it will show you disagreeing with Brown etc in your facial expressions -I think people will have to start comparing you a bit now.I mean policy wise of course in the manner of Tony Benn;s famous bid.; although this time we will win it!
It's difficult to campaign remotely though even with the wonders of technology.
This isn't on the topic of this post but i've written some replies to blogger John Gray's lies about John McDonnell , the Stop the War Coalition , Iraqi trade unionists and myself.
which set the record straight.
He made several serious and untrue allegations and then stopped posting replies so i wasnt able to reply fully on his blog.
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