Number 1067 * 10 November 2022

Union News

Ryanair workers demand end to ‘repeat tragedies’

Workers from Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport demonstrated on 8 November in honour of their colleague, Cinzia Ceravolo, who was killed crossing the city’s treacherous Hale Road in August this year after leaving work. The Unite members, who were joined by members of the GMB who work at the airport, are angry that despite repeated tragedies, no action has been taken to make the junction safe. Unite says hundreds of local residents have signed up to the union’s open letter to the Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, urging her to use the city’s stake in the airport to demand a safe crossing point at Hale Road. Unite is also calling for the pick-up and drop-off charges at the airport to be dropped. The costs take a hefty chunk out of workers’ wages, forcing them to find cheaper ways to and from work, inevitably using Hale Road.
Unite news release and open letter to the mayor.  

Journalists get safety tips on the go

Journalists’ union NUJ and the Society of Editors have launched a mobile-friendly safety toolkit to help members find advice and information while they are on the move. The free-to-access toolkit is part of the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists’ action plan to protect journalists from threats of violence and online abuse in the course of their work. NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “With surveys and our own research showing that four in five journalists have experienced threats and violence at work and more than half of NUJ members experienced online abuse, something needs to be done. That is why we have devised a toolkit offering practical tips to journalists to help protect them while doing their job. But what needs to happen is a change of culture where it is totally unacceptable for journalists to be threatened and abused just for doing their job.”
NUJ news release and Journalists Safety Toolkit.

Shock at death threats to British-Iranian journalists

Journalists’ union NUJ has pledged to support two British-Iranian journalists working for the UK-based Persian-language TV channel Iran International who have been warned of an ‘imminent, credible risk’ to their lives. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “It is shocking and outrageous that journalists carrying out their work in London are being targeted and facing credible death threats that are clearly emanating from the Iranian state. These are not isolated incidents – the latest threats against journalists working at Iran International are part of a decade-long sustained campaign against journalists and their families at BBC Persian Service and Iran International. The stress and pressure this has placed journalists and their families under is despicable and is clearly designed to instil fear and have a chilling effect on media freedom.” She said the union will work with its international counterpart IFJ “to press internationally and via the UN to force Iran to desist.”
NUJ news release. BBC News Online. The Guardian.

Support workers struggle with ‘unrealistic workloads’

Unrealistic workloads have left community support workers in Hounslow with no option but to consider industrial action, their union Unite has said. The workers employed by Hestia, a referral service which provides services ranging from mental health, addiction and immigration to language barrier support, have begun a ballot for action. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hestia management are refusing to negotiate with Unite to address the understaffing and low pay. The workers are left with one option and that is industrial action. We hope management quickly comes to its senses and negotiates.” Staff say the charity is imposing unrealistic changes in working practices which will make it near impossible to provide the important services. This is despite the referral service receiving an increase in funding from the local authority.
Unite news release.

College signs up to the Dying to Work Charter

Kirklees College has become the latest employer to sign up to the TUC’s dying to work charter, providing protection for their 884 employees. The Dying to Work campaign would like to see terminal illness recognised as a ‘protected characteristic’ so that an affected employee would enjoy a ‘protected period’ where they could not be dismissed as a result of their condition. Commenting on the decision to sign up to the charter, Kirklees College’s Kelly Wells said: “This is to show Kirklees College commitment to support colleagues should they receive a terminal ill health diagnosis. This can be a time of huge emotional stress, fear and uncertainty and so signing up to this campaign will hopefully give colleagues reassurance that they will be treated with kindness, job security and dignity.” Nationwide, over 1m workers are now covered by the TUC charter.
TUC news release. TUC Dying to Work campaign and Charter signatories.

Other News

More safety rules could subject to ‘sunsetting’

Government researchers have found another 1,400 laws that will be wiped off the statute books next year by Brexit legislation tabled by Jacob Rees-Mogg in September, according to a Financial Times report. Three more health and safety regulations have been added to the original list (Risks 1062), which has now increased to 58 rules, all of which will be ‘sunset’ next year unless the government takes explicit action to retain them. The government’s ‘Retained EU law dashboard’ lists health and safety in its five ‘top policy areas’. News of the previously missed laws came in a response to a series of questions from the Labour MP Stella Creasy, who asked about the civil service’s capacity to advise ministers on what laws should be retained, amended or ditched in the retained EU law (revocation and reform) bill. The bill is at committee stage in parliament and has been championed by Rees-Mogg as an opportunity to expunge any vestiges of EU law on domestic statute books.
BEIS retained EU law dashboard. Financial Times. The Guardian.

Botched ventilation tests put hundreds at risk

A company that tests ventilation systems has been fined after it ‘completely flouted’ safety regulations and put hundreds of workers at risk of serious lung diseases. Airtec Filtration Ltd was used by businesses across the UK to test exhaust ventilation systems, which reduce exposures to airborne contaminants in a workplace. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the firm, which is based in St Helens, provided its customers with inaccurate test results, some involving cancer- and asthma-causing substances, potentially leaving staff in those businesses unaware of the risks they faced. HSE inspectors visited multiple sites where testing had been undertaken by Airtec and at each one significant and common failings were found. As a result, Airtec was served with an Improvement Notice on 23 October 2019. Airtec Filtration Ltd pleaded guilty to a criminal safety offence and was fined £2,666 and ordered to pay costs of £4,074.
HSE news release.

Shop workers face tide of abuse as prices rise

One in three shop workers are shouted at, spat on, threatened or hit every week, according to The Retail Trust. The charity’s survey of more than 1,000 workers found nine out of ten had been the target of abusive behaviour from customers, and more than two-thirds said verbal and physical assaults had increased in the last two years. Eight in ten had been verbally assaulted and nearly a third threatened with violence, the survey found. The trust’s campaign is calling on shoppers to think again about how they behave towards retail and delivery workers. Paddy Lillis, general secretary of shopworkers’ union Usdaw, welcomed the initiative. He added: “Their shocking survey findings confirm that we do need to continue with our campaigning and next week Usdaw members will out in their workplaces and in shopping centres promoting a culture of respect to the shopping public, as well as urging retail staff not to suffer in silence with the key message of ‘report it to sort it’.”
Usdaw news release and Respect for Shopworkers Week, 14-20 November 2022. BBC News Online. ITV News. Morning Star.

Manager’s call to sick worker led to unfair dismissal

A Scottish bank worker who suffered severe anxiety has been awarded £22,304 compensation after her boss rang her while she was off sick to ask her not to post pictures of cakes on Facebook. The manager also told her to get her GP to re-evaluate her medication for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Victoria Lindsay signed off with severe anxiety but continued to experience distress due to regular check-up calls from the manager, an employment tribunal heard. The 20-year veteran at HBOS’s Hamilton branch subsequently suffered panic attacks, eventually resigning and claiming constructive dismissal. The tribunal noted: “Ms Lindsay said that the distress caused to her was horrific. She had permission to engage in her cake-making business, which she operated as a hobby and was therapeutic for dealing with her anxiety. There was nothing blameworthy about her conduct.”
Employment Tribunal decision. Ms V Lindsay v Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS), Employment Tribunals (Scotland), Case No: 4103007/2022. The HR Director.

Small fine after worker crushed to death

A construction firm has been fined £10,000 after the death of a worker at St Enoch shopping centre in Glasgow. Derek McLean, 43, was crushed after attempting to move a 3.5 tonne Brokk demolition machine up a set of stairs by remote control in August 2019. He was operating the machine, which moves on tracks, while standing behind it instead of in front. His employer, Core Cut Limited, admitted failing to write a sufficiently detailed risk assessment. Derek McLean's family said in a statement: “While the sentence may reflect a degree of accountability and lead to improving safety for others, it does not reflect the pain and trauma we feel following the loss of Derek.”
BBC News Online.

Two firms fined after driver fatally crushed

Two companies have been fined after a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver suffered fatal chest injuries while unstrapping a load on a trailer. Andrew Bayley-Machin, 41, was fatally crushed when he was hit by a pack of steel gates that fell approximately three metres from a load on a flatbed trailer. The vehicle had been loaded with the gates at Joseph Ash Ltd in Telford and driven by Mr Bayley-Machin to the premises of his employer LM Bateman & Company Ltd in Cheddleton when the incident happened on 20 June 2018. LM Bateman and Company Limited pleaded guilty to two criminal safety offences and was fined £120,000 plus £16,334 costs. Joseph Ash Limited pleaded guilty to the same charges and was fined £244,500 plus £17,834 cost. HSE inspector Wendy Campbell commented: “This death would have been prevented had an effective system for managing load restraint been in place at both companies.”
HSE news release.

Eddie Stobart exposed workers to asbestos

Logistics company Eddie Stobart has been prosecuted after work in one of its yards exposed staff to asbestos. The firm was fined £133,000 plus £9,260 costs for a series of failures that took place while excavation work was carried out at its rail and container freight port in Widnes. Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were disturbed by the building work, putting staff at risk. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found an asbestos survey had not been carried out, the workers involved hadn’t received any training in relation to asbestos, and Eddie Stobart failed to report the incident correctly. Eddie Stobart Ltd pleaded guilty to two criminal breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. HSE inspector Stuart Wood commented: “The duty to manage asbestos relates to entire premises including yard areas, not just buildings. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.”
HSE news release.

Events

WorkStress Network Conference, Nottingham, 11–13 November

The National WorkStress Network conference will take place in Nottingham from 11-13 November 2022. The theme ‘Under Pressure’ will look at the growing issue of stress, and what unions can do to take action. Open to all, but registration is required.
Register for the WorkStress Network Conference, Double Tree Hilton, Nottingham, Friday 11 November - Sunday 13 November 2022. Delegate cost is £350 residential; £250 non-residential.

TUC Midlands Health & Safety Forum, 17 November

TUC Midlands is inviting safety reps in the region to meet up on 17 November to discuss current issues and upcoming campaigns.
Register for the TUC Midlands Health & Safety Forum, 11.00am to 2.00pm, Thursday 17 Nov 2022, at TUC Midlands, 47 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3T. Free.

Scottish Hazards Conference, 17 November

The 22^nd Scottish Hazards national conference will take place on 17 November, on the theme ‘Organising for Safe and Healthy Work’. Speakers at the in-person event including STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham will give updates on campaign issues, including the Fair Work Construction Inquiry and Long Covid. There will also be workshops on: Toxics Use Reduction; Long Covid - Law and Practice: Fire Safety - Cameron House Case Study; Mental Health and Hybrid Working; and Neurodiversity.
Register for the Scottish Hazards National Conference, 10.00am to 3.30pm, Thursday 17 November 2022, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow. The cost is £60 per delegate, which includes lunch.

 TUC LESE briefing for safety reps, 25 November

Join reps from across the TUC London, Eastern and South East (LESE) Region at its briefing for health and safety reps. The meeting will discuss a range of issues affecting members, from Long Covid and asbestos, to mental health and the need to recruit a more diverse pool of safety reps.
TUC London, Eastern and South East briefing for Health and Safety Reps, 10.30am to 3.30pm Friday 25 November 2022. Register in advance.

International News

Europe: Airlines must act on cabin air standards

Aviation workers and safety experts are calling on airlines, plane manufacturers and the EU Aviation Safety Agency to immediately implement new cabin air quality standards designed to protect staff and passengers from chemical fumes. After more than seven years of work on the issue, the European Committee on Standardisation (CEN) has published a technical report including recommendations on how to prevent exposure to fumes through improvements in the design, maintenance, and operation of aircraft. Following the publication of the ‘Cabin air quality on civil aircraft - Chemical compounds’ report, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive and the European Cabin Crew Association called for the immediate implementation of the first European recommendations on cabin air quality on civil aircraft.
ETUC news release.

Global: Make Black Friday ‘Make Amazon Pay day’

The Make Amazon Pay campaign has announced a Global Day of Action with strikes and protests in around 30 countries on 25 November, the shopping day known as Black Friday. The campaign accuses Amazon of “squeezing every last drop it can” from “workers, communities and the planet” in the face of the cost-of-living scandal, global debt crisis and climate emergency. Make Amazon Pay, co-convened by the global union UNI and a broad-based coalition of over 80 unions, civil society, environmental and tax justice organisations, is demanding Amazon pays its workers fairly and respects their right to join unions and to safe work, pays its fair share of taxes and commits to real environmental sustainability. UNI general secretary Christy Hoffman said: “It’s time for the tech giant to cease their awful, unsafe practices immediately, respect the law and negotiate with the workers who want to make their jobs better.”
UNI news release. Find out about and join the Make Amazon Pay campaign events on 25 November.