Defending education workers health, safety & welfare

A week of action to protest against proposed government cuts to the Health and Safety Executive budget is being organised by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group (TUCG).

A focal event in the week will be a rally and meeting at the House of Commons on Wednesday 2 March, followed by lobbying of individual members of parliament. John McDonnell MP has put down an early day motion - EDM 1302 Health and Safety Week of Action - and is trying to get an adjournment debate for that week. TUCG also hopes to organise an online petition soon.
 
UCU encourages all branches, LA's and activists to support this lobby, and encourages members to ask their MP to sign the EDM. We will circulate details about the online petition and adjournment debate, and any other activities when we get more information.

Join us on Wednesday 2 March 2011:

• 12.30pm - gather on College Green
• 2pm rally - Committee Room 14, House of Common; speakers include UCU general secretary Sally Hunt
• 3.30pm - Lobby your MP!

If you would like to organise an event or action in your local area during the TUCG Health and Safety Week of Action contact us at TUCGinfo@googlemail.com

The All Party Parliamentary Committee on Occupational Safety & Health has issued a report expressing their concerns at the potential damage the proposed HSE budget cuts will mean for the health, safety and welfare of workers.  Their report states that cuts will lead to reduced levels of enforcement and other HSE activities, which in turn will mean more injuries, deaths and ill-health, and increased costs for injured workers and their families and for society as a whole. 

• Health and safety and the Health and Safety Executive: What the spending cuts will mean, Dec 10 [69kb]
• The article Getshirty in Hazards 112 is also worth reading.

The Trade Union Co-ordinating Group (TUCG) brings together ten national unions (BFAWU, FBU, NAPO, NUJ, NUT, PCS, POA, RMT, UCU and URTU) to co-ordinate campaigning activities.