Usdaw accuses the Coalition of attacking the right to be safe at work

THE shopworkers union Usdaw has accused the coalition Government of attacking the most fundamental of workers rights - the right to be safe at work.

Moving the Rights at Work motion at the Labour Party Annual Conference in Manchester, Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett said:- "People occasionally get killed at work. It's unfortunate but it's part of life. These are not my words, but the words of Lord Young.  He was Margaret Thatcher's hatchet man, a man whose views were shaped by a bygone age, an age when working people were deemed to be expendable. But this is the man now resurrected by David Cameron as the government's Chief Advisor on health and safety.  Lord Young needs to know this is not an occasional problem. Over 20,000 people die each year because of their work. That is not unfortunate. It is tragic.  I represent people who work on the frontline of retail. Every day they are there to help the shopping public and give a good service. Most of the time, that is a pleasant experience for both parties. But sometimes shopworkers face verbal abuse, threats and even violence.  The Tories claim that shops and offices are safe workplaces, that they don't need health and safety inspections. It's true that they don't have the obvious hazards of a chemical factory, or an oil rig, but there are hidden dangers. Like so many other public facing workers, those dangers tend to come from other people.  That is why I launched Usdaw's Freedom from Fear campaign and that is why we are backing the Bill that Hugh Henry is taking through the Scottish Parliament to extend Labour's protection for emergency service workers to all public facing workers. Violence against staff is never acceptable in any workplace. As soon as the Tories and Libdems got into power, they attacked the most fundamental workplace right - the right to be safe. The Tories, because they are ideologically committed to putting profit before people and the Lib Dems, because they are ideologically committed to clinging to their ministerial limos.  They justify their attacks by peddling myths and misinformation. But the truth is that one in ten shopworkers are assaulted every year. Every minute of every day a shopworker is verbally abused. And 1.2 million workers suffer from a work related illness.  We must keep independent workplace inspections, we must resource rigorous enforcement of the law and we must protect all public facing workers. Protect them from the dangers of the workplace and from the dangers of the coalition Government."

Do you agree with this or do you think the union has it wrong?  Email us now to our newsroom:- news24@southportreporter.com with your views on this topic!

Freshers get free guide to Liverpool living

THOUSANDS of students arriving in Liverpool to study are receiving a pocket sized book packed with hints and tips about living in the city.

The 250 page Student Survival Guide has been produced in conjunction with Liverpool’s Community Safety Partnership – Citysafe - which includes the City Council, Merseyside Police and Mersey Fire and Rescue Service. 

It includes information about the history of the city, famous buildings, public transport and advice about where to eat and drink.  It outlines the laws around drinking in public and noise nuisance plus advice on personal safety and home security, together with health tips about vaccinations and preventing sexually transmitted infections.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for community safety, said:- “Every year we welcome tens of thousands of students to Liverpool and they make a valuable contribution to life in our vibrant city.  Many of them go on to make the city their permanent home after they have graduated, which is great news.  This booklet contains lots of valuable information about where to go and what to do in Liverpool, which is always invaluable when you move somewhere new.   On a more serious note, it is also designed to make sure they understand that living independently brings certain responsibilities.  We want all of our students to be good neighbours and respect the area in which they are living, and the booklet tells them all they need to know to make sure they don’t fall foul of the law.”

A total of 25,000 copies of the booklet have been produced and are being distributed through the city’s universities, and at fresher events in partnership with student unions.  Liverpool John Moores University have sponsored a special version for 7,000 of their own students. 

Mike Clarke coordinated the production of the Student Survival Guide.  He said:- “Everything students need to know about living in Liverpool is pretty much covered in this booklet and we’ve written it in a way that we know will appeal to them.  There is also a serious point to it, because we want students to have a good time in the city but also help them to make sure they stay safe and are responsible citizens.”

Liverpool has a student population of around 50,000 mainly attending the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool Hope University and Liverpool Community College.