T&G - Best memorial for workers would be tough new laws on corporate killing

Wednesday, 27, Apr 2005 12:00

For immediate release - Wednesday 27th April 2005

Newsdesks: political and industrial correspondents, health and safety specialist press

Best memorial for workers would be tough new laws on corporate killing

Commemoration services organised by or with the Transport and General Workers Union, one of the UK's biggest general unions, will take place tomorrow (Thursday 28th April) to mark International Workers Memorial Day. Last year alone 235 workers died at work, which was a four per cent increase on 2003. Those deaths have prompted renewed calls by the T&G to coincide with tomorrow's events for tough new laws on corporate killing and directors' duties from a third term Labour government.

The T&G is involved in events throughout Workers' Memorial Day in places as widespread as Birmingham, Solihull, Bristol, Bradford, Cleethorpes, Coventry, London, Grimsby, Liverpool, Rochdale and Immingham. The events will include vigils, observing silences, dignified marches, wreath laying and speeches by union officers and civic dignitaries. "It is absolutely right that we mourn the dead and fight for the living at these events," said Tony Woodley, T&G General Secretary. "It is also right that we stress our determination to see new laws on corporate killing and directors' duties brought in early by a third term Labour government."

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates up to 70 per cent of workplace deaths are the result of serious management failures yet only 5 directors have been imprisoned for corporate manslaughter in the history of British law. The outgoing Labour government did propose a draft corporate manslaughter bill in March which was given a cautious welcome by the union.

"The draft Bill is a chance to ensure that health and safety is taken more seriously in the boardroom, to ensure that workers' health is protected through a culture of prevention and that justice is done when tragedies do occur," said Tony Woodley. "We are particularly pleased to see that the proposals will also apply to the Crown. As the largest employer in the land, it is vital that the government sets the lead on workplace health and safety."

The union also expressed concern that the draft Bill does not require directors to take positive steps on health and safety. This could mean that the courts will not be able to apply the new offence of corporate manslaughter in instances where individual company directors have neglected to maintain safe workplaces.

ENDS

For further information on the listed events go to the T&G website at www.tgwu.org.uk and click on Workers' Memorial Day on the home page.

Notes to Editors:

In the last year 235 workers were killed at work and over 30,000 workers suffered major injuries.

In 1996 the Law Commission recommended that an offence of corporate killing should be enacted. In 1997 the government pledged to improve safety by ensuring that companies and directors can be held to account more easily for negligent or reckless conduct.

Only 11 company directors have ever been convicted of manslaughter following a work-related death and of those 11 convictions just 5 directors were imprisoned. Of the remaining 6 directors convicted of manslaughter 5 received suspended sentences and 1 was given community service (source Centre for Corporate Accountability).

The T&G has campaigned for the law to be reformed in order to make companies, through a nominated director, truly responsible for the welfare and safety of their employees and the general public. Most recently, the union backed Stephen Hepburn MP's Health and Safety at Work (Directors' Duties) private member's bill.

The government accepted the principle that Crown immunity should be removed in its strategy statement Revitalising Health and Safety published in June 2000.