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TUC WELCOMES TRANSCO ?15MILLION FINE - 27 AUGUST 2005
The TUC today welcomed the imposition of a ?15 million fine on Transco for offences under the HSW Act. Hugh Robertson, TUC Senior Health and Safety Officer, said:
'We are pleased that the courts finally seem to be taking Health and Safety offences seriously. However it does illustrate why we also need an offence of Corporate Killing. A conviction under the health and safety at work act is still seen as an administrative breach, whatever the penalty. We believe that this case also reinforces the case for more stringent duties on directors with penalties for those that allow situations like this to arise.
'We hope that this conviction will be of some consolation to the families of those that died and believe that penalties of this order may make companies think again before putting profit before safety.'
'We are pleased that the courts finally seem to be taking Health and Safety offences seriously. However it does illustrate why we also need an offence of Corporate Killing. A conviction under the health and safety at work act is still seen as an administrative breach, whatever the penalty. We believe that this case also reinforces the case for more stringent duties on directors with penalties for those that allow situations like this to arise.
'We hope that this conviction will be of some consolation to the families of those that died and believe that penalties of this order may make companies think again before putting profit before safety.'
TUC AGENDA FOR 137th CONGRESS - 01 AUGUST 2005
A review of public transport safety, pensions, equal pay, parental leave, age discrimination, working hours and climate change are amongst the 90 motions published today (Monday) in the Congress 2005 preliminary agenda.
Between 12 - 15 September, some 800 delegates will be gathering in Brighton to debate a range of issues including public sector pensions, civil service job cuts, freelance workers and childcare.
Speakers over the four days include TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, TUC President Jeannie Drake, Chair of the Women & Work Commission, Barnoness Prosser, Chair of the Pensions Commission, Adair Turner, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, and Labour Party Chair, Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP.
Other motions include a call for union subscriptions to be made tax deductible, for it to be made illegal for businesses to discriminate against gay consumers, and one which congratulates the BBC for bringing Doctor Who back to our TV screens.
Applications for media credentials must be received by 5pm Friday 2nd September. Requests received after this date will be subject to a ?50 administration charge. To register and to book a BT phone line go to http://www.tuc.org.uk/congress/mediacreds2005.cfm
The full text of all the motions for the 137th Congress can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/prelim2005.pdf
Congress 2005 timetable (draft - subject to changes)
Sunday 11 September
am briefing for photographers and broadcasters
noon Brendan Barber press conference followed by union press conferences
Monday 12 September
am Jeannie Drake gives the President?s address
employment rights debate
pm Margaret Prosser, Chair of the Women and Work Commission
Brendan Barber?s speech to Congress
childcare, equalities debate
working time and work/life balance motions
Tuesday 14 September
am learning and skills debate
a senior government minister
education debate
pm Ian McCartney MP, Labour Party Chair
energy debate
public services debate
Wednesday 14 September
am pensions debate
Adair Turner, Chair of the Turner Commission
Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
pm debates on international issues and Europe
Guy Ryder, General Secretary, International Confederation of Trade Unions
Thursday 15 September
am health and safety debate
transport debate
pm any remaining business
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet : a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre‑embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
- A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 9am-9pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
Skills for Life and media enquiries: Dan Ashley T: 020 7467 1372; M: 07880 504 846;
E: dashley@tuc.org.uk
Between 12 - 15 September, some 800 delegates will be gathering in Brighton to debate a range of issues including public sector pensions, civil service job cuts, freelance workers and childcare.
Speakers over the four days include TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, TUC President Jeannie Drake, Chair of the Women & Work Commission, Barnoness Prosser, Chair of the Pensions Commission, Adair Turner, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, and Labour Party Chair, Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP.
Other motions include a call for union subscriptions to be made tax deductible, for it to be made illegal for businesses to discriminate against gay consumers, and one which congratulates the BBC for bringing Doctor Who back to our TV screens.
Applications for media credentials must be received by 5pm Friday 2nd September. Requests received after this date will be subject to a ?50 administration charge. To register and to book a BT phone line go to http://www.tuc.org.uk/congress/mediacreds2005.cfm
The full text of all the motions for the 137th Congress can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/prelim2005.pdf
Congress 2005 timetable (draft - subject to changes)
Sunday 11 September
am briefing for photographers and broadcasters
noon Brendan Barber press conference followed by union press conferences
Monday 12 September
am Jeannie Drake gives the President?s address
employment rights debate
pm Margaret Prosser, Chair of the Women and Work Commission
Brendan Barber?s speech to Congress
childcare, equalities debate
working time and work/life balance motions
Tuesday 14 September
am learning and skills debate
a senior government minister
education debate
pm Ian McCartney MP, Labour Party Chair
energy debate
public services debate
Wednesday 14 September
am pensions debate
Adair Turner, Chair of the Turner Commission
Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
pm debates on international issues and Europe
Guy Ryder, General Secretary, International Confederation of Trade Unions
Thursday 15 September
am health and safety debate
transport debate
pm any remaining business
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet : a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre‑embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
- A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 9am-9pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
Skills for Life and media enquiries: Dan Ashley T: 020 7467 1372; M: 07880 504 846;
E: dashley@tuc.org.uk
WELSH TUC WARNS OF POWER CUTS - 29 JULY 2005
As Welsh TUC Conference starts today (29 July 2005) the Wales TUC says Power Cuts and Job Cuts on the way if we don?t act now.
Wales needs to have a balanced and diverse energy supply if we are not to be at the mercy of international events, climate change and increased demand.
A major Wales TUC energy conference today (Friday) in Llandudno is expected to warn that failure to act now could spell disaster for workers, communities and businesses in Wales as UK gas and oil stocks diminish.
Industry experts from across the UK will speak at the Wales TUC Energy Conference, entitled ?Could the Lights Go Out in Wales?? The Conference takes place from 9.30am until 3pm at the St Georges Hotel in Llandudno and is supported by Anglesey Aluminium Ltd.
Felicity Williams , Wales TUC General Secretary says that this agenda setting conference will outline the tough and pressing choices that Wales and UK policy makers need to take.
'There are tough and critical choices that need to be made and this conference will address those choices.
'The UK will soon become a net importer of gas and oil. However, the sources of gas and oil will be from some of the world?s most unstable countries where security of supply and price will be out of our hands.
'Global energy demand is likely to double over the next fifty years . Yet our Kyoto climate change responsibilities require a huge reduction in green house gas emissions.
'There is increasing doubt about whether renewable energy generation such as wind farms can meet our future energy needs. And the nuclear fleet, which provides 20% of our current energy and emits virtually no green house gases, is in the process of being decommissioned.
'Decisions on just how we fill this massive deficit will need to be made quickly and this conference will be a major contributor to that debate.'
The Conference will address;
? How do we secure sustainable energy sources that reduce green house gas emissions?
? How can we insulate our communities and businesses from the effects of sourcing future energy needs from some of the world?s most unstable countries?
? Can we do better in renewable energy sources?
? Can we really afford to do away with the nuclear option with the benefits that modern nuclear technology can bring, including drastically reducing waste?
? Can ?cleaner? coal contribute?
The Conference is expected to call for policy makers in Wales and at a UK level to start planning now, and that at the core of any policy must be a balanced and diverse energy supply that must not discount, at this stage, nuclear energy being part of any solution.
_________________________________________________________________
Notes to Editors
The Wales TUC Conference on Energy takes place on Friday 29th July 2005 from 9.30am to 3.00pm at St Georges Hotel, Llandudno. It is free of charge and the media is welcome to attend.
A full agenda and biographical/presentation synopses are attached.
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Darron Dupre on 029 2034 7014 or ddupre@tuc.org.uk
Or Friday 29 July: 01492 877 544
Wales needs to have a balanced and diverse energy supply if we are not to be at the mercy of international events, climate change and increased demand.
A major Wales TUC energy conference today (Friday) in Llandudno is expected to warn that failure to act now could spell disaster for workers, communities and businesses in Wales as UK gas and oil stocks diminish.
Industry experts from across the UK will speak at the Wales TUC Energy Conference, entitled ?Could the Lights Go Out in Wales?? The Conference takes place from 9.30am until 3pm at the St Georges Hotel in Llandudno and is supported by Anglesey Aluminium Ltd.
Felicity Williams , Wales TUC General Secretary says that this agenda setting conference will outline the tough and pressing choices that Wales and UK policy makers need to take.
'There are tough and critical choices that need to be made and this conference will address those choices.
'The UK will soon become a net importer of gas and oil. However, the sources of gas and oil will be from some of the world?s most unstable countries where security of supply and price will be out of our hands.
'Global energy demand is likely to double over the next fifty years . Yet our Kyoto climate change responsibilities require a huge reduction in green house gas emissions.
'There is increasing doubt about whether renewable energy generation such as wind farms can meet our future energy needs. And the nuclear fleet, which provides 20% of our current energy and emits virtually no green house gases, is in the process of being decommissioned.
'Decisions on just how we fill this massive deficit will need to be made quickly and this conference will be a major contributor to that debate.'
The Conference will address;
? How do we secure sustainable energy sources that reduce green house gas emissions?
? How can we insulate our communities and businesses from the effects of sourcing future energy needs from some of the world?s most unstable countries?
? Can we do better in renewable energy sources?
? Can we really afford to do away with the nuclear option with the benefits that modern nuclear technology can bring, including drastically reducing waste?
? Can ?cleaner? coal contribute?
The Conference is expected to call for policy makers in Wales and at a UK level to start planning now, and that at the core of any policy must be a balanced and diverse energy supply that must not discount, at this stage, nuclear energy being part of any solution.
_________________________________________________________________
Notes to Editors
The Wales TUC Conference on Energy takes place on Friday 29th July 2005 from 9.30am to 3.00pm at St Georges Hotel, Llandudno. It is free of charge and the media is welcome to attend.
A full agenda and biographical/presentation synopses are attached.
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Darron Dupre on 029 2034 7014 or ddupre@tuc.org.uk
Or Friday 29 July: 01492 877 544
TUC COMMENTS ON FATAL INJURIES STATISTICS - 29 JULY 2005
Commenting on the Health & Safety Commission?s (HSC) latest detailed statistics on fatal injuries released today, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
' The TUC welcomes the fall in fatalities. However, any death is a tragedy and almost all of them are preventable if proper safety precautions are in place. Although the overall figures have fallen, there have been increases in manufacturing and construction, which must be of particular concern.
'Even if the rate is falling, the figures for some industries, such as construction and agriculture, are still very high and we hope that there will be strong enforcement action in these sectors to bring the rate down further.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet : a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre‑embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
- A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 9am-9pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Ben Hurley T: 020 7467 1248; Pager: 07699 713182 ; E: bhurley@tuc.org.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
' The TUC welcomes the fall in fatalities. However, any death is a tragedy and almost all of them are preventable if proper safety precautions are in place. Although the overall figures have fallen, there have been increases in manufacturing and construction, which must be of particular concern.
'Even if the rate is falling, the figures for some industries, such as construction and agriculture, are still very high and we hope that there will be strong enforcement action in these sectors to bring the rate down further.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet : a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre‑embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
- A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 9am-9pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Ben Hurley T: 020 7467 1248; Pager: 07699 713182 ; E: bhurley@tuc.org.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
TUC DEMOLISHES TOP TEN 'COMPENSATION CULTURE' MYTHS 28 JULY 2005
The UK is not in the grips of a US-style compensation culture, nine out of every ten workers injured or made ill by their jobs never receive a penny, and the best way for employers to ensure they stay out of court and keep costs down is to make their workplaces safer, according to a report published by the TUC today (Thursday).
?The Compensation Myth? sets out to demolish ten of the most commonly held myths put about by commentators who say that the cost of compensation paid out as a result of workplace accidents and injuries is spiralling out of control. On the contrary, says the report, the number of civil compensation cases involving claims against employers has fallen every year for the last five years.
The UK also pays out much less money in compensation cases, as a proportion of its GDP, than any other European country except Denmark, and the cost of compensation payouts has remained the same, in real terms, since 1999, says the report.
Dispelling the myth that UK workers are all too ready to whack in a compensation claim the second they get ill or are slightly injured, ?The Compensation Myth? says that only 80,000 of the 850,000 plus people who are the victims of work-related accidents or injuries each year, ever receive any kind of payout from their employer or the state.
Myth three destroyed by the TUC is the one that says that compensation payments are too high. The six figure payouts that hit the headlines are extremely rare, with the average settlement around the ?7,500 mark, and the vast majority receiving less than ?5,000.
The report also rubbishes the notion that it is unfair that insurance companies should have to pay out for asbestos-related diseases when no-one knew of the risks years ago.
?The Compensation Myth? says that the dangers of asbestos were first identified in the 19th century, there have been controls on its use since 1931, and the risks were well-known as long ago as the 1940s. Yet employers continued to use the fatal fibre and expose workers to it right up until the 1970s meaning that some 2,000 people still die every year as a result.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'All the time we hear that the UK is in the grip of a runaway compensation culture and that we are moving ever closer to a US-style ?sue-first-ask-questions later? system. The harsh reality for thousands of ill and injured workers is very different with most getting little if anything when things go wrong at work as a result of their employers? negligence.
'If insurance premiums more closely reflected an employer?s health and safety record, with those happy to put their employees at risk paying more and those with safer workplaces paying less, we might start to see an improvement in the UK?s poor accident and illness statistics. Cutting our compensation bill is easy, but first UK bosses have to get serious about improving health and safety.'
The report also dispenses with the idea that employers liability insurance is just another burden on UK businesses by pointing out that the average cost is just 0.25 per cent of firms? total payroll costs and is the lowest in Europe. It also says that because there is little difference in the premiums paid out by companies with good or bad safety records, there is no incentive for employers with dangerous workplaces to tidy up their acts.
The other claims dismissed by the TUC report as nonsense are the idea that a large number of claims in recent years has forced up the cost of insurance premiums for employers and that injury and illness cases wouldn?t get taken up if unions stopped encouraging their members to make frivolous claims.
It also knocks the notion that employers often have trouble getting insurance, noting that despite it being a legal requirement, seven per cent of small businesses don?t have cover because they want to cut costs.
?The Compensation Myth? sets out three ways that the UK?s compensation bill could be cut:
Good health and safety practices should be rewarded, where companies with poor accident and injury records pay higher insurance premiums.
When someone is made ill or injured at work, the priority should be to allow the individual access to proper rehabilitation, greatly increasing the chances that they will make a full or early recovery.
Insurance companies should be more ready to admit liability earlier on to avoid running up costly medical and legal bills.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
A copy of ?The Compensation Myth? can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/compensationmyth.doc
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
Contacts: Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
Congress: TUC Congress 2005 will be at the Brighton Centre, Brighton from Monday 12 September to Thursday 15 September. Applications for media credentials must be received by 5pm Friday 2nd September. Requests received after this date will be subject to a ?50 administration charge. To register and to book a BT phone line go to http://www.tuc.org.uk/congress/mediacreds2005.cfm
?The Compensation Myth? sets out to demolish ten of the most commonly held myths put about by commentators who say that the cost of compensation paid out as a result of workplace accidents and injuries is spiralling out of control. On the contrary, says the report, the number of civil compensation cases involving claims against employers has fallen every year for the last five years.
The UK also pays out much less money in compensation cases, as a proportion of its GDP, than any other European country except Denmark, and the cost of compensation payouts has remained the same, in real terms, since 1999, says the report.
Dispelling the myth that UK workers are all too ready to whack in a compensation claim the second they get ill or are slightly injured, ?The Compensation Myth? says that only 80,000 of the 850,000 plus people who are the victims of work-related accidents or injuries each year, ever receive any kind of payout from their employer or the state.
Myth three destroyed by the TUC is the one that says that compensation payments are too high. The six figure payouts that hit the headlines are extremely rare, with the average settlement around the ?7,500 mark, and the vast majority receiving less than ?5,000.
The report also rubbishes the notion that it is unfair that insurance companies should have to pay out for asbestos-related diseases when no-one knew of the risks years ago.
?The Compensation Myth? says that the dangers of asbestos were first identified in the 19th century, there have been controls on its use since 1931, and the risks were well-known as long ago as the 1940s. Yet employers continued to use the fatal fibre and expose workers to it right up until the 1970s meaning that some 2,000 people still die every year as a result.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'All the time we hear that the UK is in the grip of a runaway compensation culture and that we are moving ever closer to a US-style ?sue-first-ask-questions later? system. The harsh reality for thousands of ill and injured workers is very different with most getting little if anything when things go wrong at work as a result of their employers? negligence.
'If insurance premiums more closely reflected an employer?s health and safety record, with those happy to put their employees at risk paying more and those with safer workplaces paying less, we might start to see an improvement in the UK?s poor accident and illness statistics. Cutting our compensation bill is easy, but first UK bosses have to get serious about improving health and safety.'
The report also dispenses with the idea that employers liability insurance is just another burden on UK businesses by pointing out that the average cost is just 0.25 per cent of firms? total payroll costs and is the lowest in Europe. It also says that because there is little difference in the premiums paid out by companies with good or bad safety records, there is no incentive for employers with dangerous workplaces to tidy up their acts.
The other claims dismissed by the TUC report as nonsense are the idea that a large number of claims in recent years has forced up the cost of insurance premiums for employers and that injury and illness cases wouldn?t get taken up if unions stopped encouraging their members to make frivolous claims.
It also knocks the notion that employers often have trouble getting insurance, noting that despite it being a legal requirement, seven per cent of small businesses don?t have cover because they want to cut costs.
?The Compensation Myth? sets out three ways that the UK?s compensation bill could be cut:
Good health and safety practices should be rewarded, where companies with poor accident and injury records pay higher insurance premiums.
When someone is made ill or injured at work, the priority should be to allow the individual access to proper rehabilitation, greatly increasing the chances that they will make a full or early recovery.
Insurance companies should be more ready to admit liability earlier on to avoid running up costly medical and legal bills.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
A copy of ?The Compensation Myth? can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/compensationmyth.doc
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
Contacts: Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
Congress: TUC Congress 2005 will be at the Brighton Centre, Brighton from Monday 12 September to Thursday 15 September. Applications for media credentials must be received by 5pm Friday 2nd September. Requests received after this date will be subject to a ?50 administration charge. To register and to book a BT phone line go to http://www.tuc.org.uk/congress/mediacreds2005.cfm
Industrial Action
The National Union of Mineworkers expresses its support for fellow trade unionists in the Public Sector who today are having to resort to withdrawing their labour (a fundamental right of any worker) and take strike action against these unfair cuts to their pensions and terms and conditions.
T
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Funeral of Gerry Gibson
It is with deep regret that the NUM (Yorkshire Area) announce the Funeral Service details for Gerry Gibson who tragically lost his life at Kellingley Colliery on Tuesday 27th September 2011.The Service in dedication to Gerry a much respected member,work mate & fellow miner will be held in
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Statement from Gerry's Family
We are all truly devastated by Gerry's sudden and tragic death.
We would like to pay tribute to everyone involved in attempts to rescue Gerry - all work colleagues; Kellingley rescue team; the air ambulance team and all other medics who were on site. Their tireless efforts were not i
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Fatality at Kellingley Colliery
it is with deep regret that the national union of mineworkers has to confirm that as a result of a tragic accident at kellingley colliery one of our members has lost his life.
the whole workforce at the colliery are devastated at the loss of a friend and colleague as a result of a roof fall on 502s
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