Congress 2006 Composite emergency motion 3
Congress 2006
Composite emergency motion
E3 HSE job cuts
Congress notes with deep concern the announcement by the Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive on 10 August 2006 that due to financial constraints it is intended that between 250 and 350 HSE jobs will be cut by 2008. Congress also notes that the HSE's budget may be cut further as a result of the Chancellor's decision to cut the budget of the Department for Work and Pensions, the HSE's sponsoring department, by 5 per cent for the 2008-2011 CSR.
Such a reduction in HSE funding and staff would, if enacted, inevitably have an adverse impact on the HSE's effectiveness and ability to enforce health and safety standards at work.
Congress also notes that current indications are that the cuts will primarily hit administrative and policy functions. Experience of widespread cuts throughout the Civil Service, resulting from the implementation of the Gershon Review, shows that this has serious consequences for delivering key services. In the HSE, it will have a detrimental effect on recent developments of frontline roles to support and enhance the work of inspectors. Congress recognises that cuts in any area of staffing will undermine the HSE's campaigns to reduce work-related deaths, injury, ill health and sickness absence. In particular, it would leave workers in high-risk industries such as construction and agriculture vulnerable to hazards at work. Congress expresses further concern at the particular implications for young and migrant workers, many of whom work in low paid and high-risk jobs.
There is still some way to go to meet the HSE's public service agreement targets, which requires maintaining the right mix of skills and expertise, and the staff numbers to deliver them.
Congress reaffirms TUC policy of proper levels of funding for the HSE to enable a substantial increase in the number of inspectors to provide a robust regulatory regime of inspection and enforcement, as well as guidance and education.
Accordingly, Congress calls upon the General Council to seek Government intervention to ensure that the HSE has the resources to prevent job cuts and avoid reversing the gradual improvement in the health and safety record of Great Britain; and to give full support to any campaign against the cuts by the HSE trade unions for the Health and Safety Executive to be properly funded and resourced.
Mover: Prospect
Seconder: Public and Commercial Services Union
Stay Updated
Want to hear about our latest news and blogs?
Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox