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date: 28 April 2009

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcomes PM's comments on union safety reps

Welcoming the Prime Minister's acknowledgement today (Tuesday) of the important role that unions and safety representatives play in keeping UK workplaces safe, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Today on workers' memorial day there are events and ceremonies taking place across the country marking the thousands of people who have lost their lives, become ill or been terribly injured as a result of their jobs. The safest workplaces in the UK are the ones where there are union safety reps to keep employers on their toes and who work with managers to keep their colleagues safe at work.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- In a message issued to mark workers' memorial day today, Gordon Brown said: 'Britain can rightly be proud of the health and safety legislation we have in place and the British trade union movement has led the way in protecting the lives of people at work through health and safety representatives. Their dedication has protected countless workers and their families from the consequences of deaths and injuries at work and I pay tribute to their tireless efforts on behalf of us all.'

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 28 Apr 2009