PCS: Union members in protest over loss of London health & safety jobs

Monday, 28 April 2008 12:00 AM

PCS members at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) London headquarters are today staging a protest in response to a decision to close the office and move their jobs to Bootle in Liverpool. General secretary Mark Serwotka will address staff before presenting a petition to the chief executive urging him to think again about the decision.
Last week a report released by the government raised concerns over the move that will see the loss hundreds of experienced staff. Of the 320 staff in scope for the move, over 60 staff have already left and only 12 have expressed an interest in relocating, meaning that HSE will lose the competence, knowledge and know-how of a further 250 staff over the next two years. So far only 28 staff have been recruited in Bootle.

The union warned that this could result in key parts of the organisation being under-staffed and lacking experience for a number of years. Currently London based policy, legal, communication and support staff play a vital and active role in efforts to keep people healthy and safe at work. Staff have come together to sign the petition, worried that HSE is losing thousands of years worth of experience at a time of rising fatalities, accidents and ill health.

The protest coincides with the annual International Workers' Memorial Day which commemorates all those who have died, suffered ill-health or been injured at work. Hundreds of trade unionists will be marching from Tate Modern at 11am to HSE's London headquarters on Southwark Street and then on to a City Hall rally. Marchers will be calling for a zero tolerance of preventable workplace injuries and deaths, tougher regulation and increased resources for the HSE to undertake their crucial role in regulating workplace safety.

PCS HSE branch secretary Chris Hurley said, "Management say that savings from moving out of London will enable HSE to improve inspection rates across the country. In fact, London HQ only accounts for 1.5% of total budget. Also, the original business case assumed that 40% of staff would go to the North West. In fact it's less than 4%. This loss will devastate the organisation. It is time for management to think again before it is too late."

Mark Serwotka PCS general secretary commented, "Members in HSE are delivering improvements to the lives of millions in this country. Yet management think it is acceptable to lose these experienced staff. In addition to the personal traumas being imposed on staff, the loss of so much experience puts all workers at risk. This petition ought to cause management to pause and think again about the action they are taking."

ENDS

Notes to editors
¿ For further information, interviews and comment please contact Jayson Sloss PCS Negotiations Officer on 07788 118820.

¿ PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 325,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich.

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