Scottish Construction Safety Campaign
The English and Scottish Construction Safety
Campaign (CSC) is a campaign started by a group of individuals,
who may or may not be members of a trade union, some of
whom are left of the political mainstream. The CSC were
united by a common anger with (what they perceived as)
the slow pace of other mainstream safety campaigns run
by the trade unions. Their campaign focuses on issues
such as fighting for changes in the law regarding manslaughter
(in Scotland this would be culpable homicide), and the
introduction of safer working practices in the construction
industry. The STUC states that they concur with the CSC's
main aims but are not affiliated. The STUC however, disagrees
with one key issue with the CSC. The CSC refuse to consider
partnership agreements between trade unions and employers,
something the STUC is constantly striving to achieve.
Their main aims are (according to Tony O' Brien, Secretary,
CSC):
-
To prevent workplace deaths and disease
by ensuring laws are enacted that will allow directors
of companies to serve a term in prison when it is
proved that their disregard for workers' health and
safety was the main cause of death.
-
After winning the fight to get a ban
of asbestos imports in 1999 they now want all asbestos
to be removed from properties. Thereby preventing
further asbestos related deaths in the future. They
also want greater enforcing of asbestos laws and that
these laws must apply to all properties both domestic
and non-domestic.
-
Due to the lack of workplace trade
union organisation especially in the construction
industry CSC want the right to have trade union roving
safety reps. They want these reps to have rights to
enter employers' premises and inspect and issue improvement
notices and be able to call on the HSE if and when
employers refuse to co-operate with the reps.
Their activities include protesting and
lobbying outside coroners, magistrates and crown courts
over the deaths of construction workers. Giving support
to relatives of those killed. And generally getting the
demands of their campaign publicised.
They have a national committee and hold
an AGM each year. They formed the above policies in 1998
and claim to have been successful in getting most national
trades unions to adopt them. They are involved and support
the activities of the Hazards campaign. For support they
ask for affiliation from union branches, donations and
involvement in the activities of the campaign (see their
campaign leaflet).
Contacts list
Lisa Manus: l.manus@unison.co.uk
Dave Watson : d.watson@unison.co.uk
@ The P&I Team, UNISON Scotland 14 West Campbell St, Glasgow
G2 6RX Tel 0845 355 0845 Fax 0141 221 8953
February 2004
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