Home > Regions > North West > E-bulletins > Archive e-bulletin > E-Bulletin Issue 12 May 2006

 

 

Amicus has been in talks with General Motors Europe about the future of the Vauxhalls Astra plant at Ellesmere Port and is seeking urgent reassurances from the company over recent statements in the press which suggested potential plant closures and relocations.

 

Amicus is also concerned about the proposed job cuts at the Vauxhall plant in Merseyside and is calling for the company to share cuts across the five European GM plants rather than close one outright.

 

Tony Murphy, the UK’s Chief negotiator on the GM European Works Council and Amicus’ National Officer for Vehicle Components, said:

 

 

 

Kevin Coyne, Amicus North West Regional Secretary said:

 

 

Amicus joined other trade unions, campaigners and bereaved families at a Joint Union Meeting in Manchester on Friday 28^th April to mark Workers Memorial Day (WMD).

 

Over 120 people attended the meeting, sponsored by Amicus’ solicitors Thompsons, at the Mechanics Institute.  Speakers included two very brave women who spoke about losing loved ones in such tragic circumstances, Ian McFall, Thompsons and other trade union officials.  The day continued at the Peace Garden where over 200 people gathered to hear a short service led by Industrial Chaplains with a one minute silence at noon.  Speakers included the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Tony Lloyd, other trade union officials and Billy Bragg who took time out of his North West tour “Hope not hate” to join campaigners and ended the day by singing his own version of Internationale.

 

North West Regional Officer, Kevin Coyne, spoke at the meeting about the union’s fight for more stringent laws on corporate manslaughter and it’s commitment to ensuring stronger enforcement.

 

Kevin Coyne said:

 

 

“Today is not only the opportunity to remember them but also to ensure that we do all we can to prevent workers dying as a result of their work.  We want legislation on corporate manslaughter that works and ensures that employers put Health and Safety at the top of their agenda.

 

 

The Preston & District Workers Memorial Day Committee event consisted of a multi-faith service including contemporary folk musicians, readings and speeches by guest speakers, a release of 220 balloons signifying the number of UK workers killed whilst at work during April 2005 to March 2006 and a short march down Friargate to Lune Street where a bronze cast memorial plaque was unveiled. 

 

Graham King, Safety Rep., from BAE Systems Warton Unit said:

 

 

 

A multi-faith service at was also held at the Amicus Workers Memorial Day Tree in Astley Park, Chorley.

 

This year’s turn out at all North West events was higher than previous years and we hope to develop and build on this day for events in 2007. 

 

Amicus joined Billy Bragg’s “Hope Not Hate – Stop the BNP” events, supported by Love Music Hate Racism at venues in the North West this month to reinforce the message that Amicus are at the forefront of opposing racism and the BNP in the run up to the local elections.

 

Amicus had a stand at both Billy Bragg’s gigs in Manchester and Liverpool with free Amicus merchandise promoting the message “Amicus Fighting against Racism” and join us.

 

North West Officer, Lawrence Chapple-Gill was invited to speak at the Amicus-sponsored Love Music Hate Racism Festival Stop the Nazi BNP in Manchester and appeared with Dominique Walker, the sister of murdered black teenager Anthony Walker.

 

 Lawrence Chapple-Gill said:

 

 

Over 700 people attend the events at the Jabez Clegg Nightclub and Sankeys Soap Nightclub in Manchester with live performances from The Wilding (ex members of the Clash and Fall), the Pedestrians (local Manchester heroes), Martin the Mod (DJ from the Rock Against Racism era) and rising Northern starts Red Mojo.

 

Amicus officials and reps visited construction sites across Manchester during March inviting workers to a specially organised meeting in Manchester as part of a major recruitment and organising campaign in the North West.

 

Unfortunately, despite a lot of time and effort, disappointment came as the meeting was not as well attended as expected.  However, Amicus remains positive and is concentrating all its campaigning energy to ensure our members working in construction are entitled to the highest possible reward for their hard work and commitment.

 

Amicus’ Construction Lead Officer, Tom Hardacre, said:

 

 

Amicus was de-recognised by Scotts in Ellesmere Port over 10 years ago. Now we are back!

 

As a result of Amicus perseverance all shop floor and office staff were given a vote on Amicus recognition for collective bargaining at Sankey Scott Laminations in Ellesmere Port, Wirral.

 

The turnout in the secret ballot was in excess of 90%, with over 97% of the workforce voting for Amicus as the recognised union for all workers at the Ellesmere Port site.

The plant in Ellesmere Port is a leading European supplier of stamping and diecast components for electric motors and generators. They employ over 200 people locally and also have factories in the Midlands; Germany; and Hungary.

 

Membership at Lighthouse Project has nearly doubled since last September with 136 members and 4 new reps.

 

The 5 reps are now organising as a group, producing their own newsletters for member and undertaking roving surgeries.

 

Debbie Brannan said:

 

 

“If a member needs help in making changes or challenging management then organise, if you need help in organising ask and remember, united we stand divided we fall.”

 

Lighthouse project is a voluntary sector organisation, formerly known as Merseyside Drugs Council. They offer support to substance abusers including a training facility to give people training and work experience to break the cycle.

The following North West GMPU and Unifi offices have closed and staff and officials have relocated to the Prestwich Office, Manchester, Telephone 0161 798 8976.

 

GPMU, Greater Manchester, Lever Street, Manchester; CMS, Swan Street, Manchester; GMPU, Merseyside, C Lancashire & N Wales, County Road, Liverpool; North Lancashire, Blackburn, Lancashire and Unifi, Deva Centre, Salford.

 

Contact details for all North West Officers and Staff can be found on the North West regional pages of the Amicus website on the following link http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=3095.

North West Regional Officers, Clive Kitchen and Ron Ralph left Amicus in March under the voluntary redundancy programme. Frank Corless left at the end of April.

The Region wishes them all lots of success for the future.

Colleagues are invited to a public meeting “Future of the NHS” sponsored by the Wirral Health Workers unions to discuss the Foundation Trust application submitted by the Wirral NHS Trust.

 

The meeting is taking place on Friday, 12^th May at Birkenhead Town Hall from 7.00 p.m.  Speakers include Stephen Hesford, MP, Wirral NHS Trust spokesperson, Trade Unions, Keep the NHS Public.  This will be followed by a question and answer session.

Colleagues are invited to a public meeting “Keep our NHS pubic – NHS not for sale” in Liverpool.

 

The meeting is taking place on Tuesday 30^th May at 7.00 p.m. at the Merseyside Seaman’s Mission (1^st Floor), Colonsay House, 20 Crosby Road South, Waterloo.  Speakers include Dr. Alex Scott-Samuel (Keep our NHS public campaign) and Amicus and Unison Health Sector and service user representatives.  All welcome.

 

For further information please telephone 0781 3471548.

The TUC is urging all union reps to attend one of the consultative meetings, to be held in June in Manchester, to put the case for extended union safety rep and other safety right, including the right to issue Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs), the right to stop the job and the right to a response from the employer.

 

The meetings are being held at the Mechanics Institute, Manchester on 6^th June from 17.30 – 19.30 and 7^th June from 08.30 – 10.30.  Please use the below link to obtain background information/copy of the consultative document http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd207.htm.

Pleural plaques claims - Pleural plaques involve physiological changes to the lungs caused by the penetration of the chest wall by asbestos fibres.  These changes to the lungs are permanent.  Those affected often suffer anxiety in relation to the (albeit small) risk of developing more serious asbestos-related conditions.

 

For many years, workers with pleural plaques have successfully claimed compensation.

 

Insurance companies have in recent times made a number of challenges in relation to pleural plaques claims.  The Court of Appeal has decided by a majority of 2 to 1 that pleural plaques caused by exposure to asbestos are in themselves insufficiently serious to give rise to a cause of action.  The Court did not accept that the plaques, or the anxiety suffered by those affected, would be sufficient to warrant an award of compensation.  

 

Unfortunately this means that, as things stand, many workers diagnosed with pleural plaques can no longer pursue claims for compensation.

 

The Court of Appeal has granted permission for the claimants in the cases concerned to appeal to the House of Lords.  It is hoped that the matter will be heard within the next 12 to 24 months.

 

Before the Court of Appeal’s decision, many Amicus members were successful in obtaining compensation for pleural plaques.  Unfortunately, however, many are still without compensation and are now forced to await the House of Lords’ decision.

 

Vicarious liability - Employers are legally responsible for not only their own but also their employees’ acts of carelessness during the course of their employment.  This means that where an injury has been caused as a result of another employee’s carelessness at work, the injured party can still pursue a claim against their employer.

 

An Amicus member, employed by a flooring manufacturer based in Liverpool, received £173,000.00 in compensation. The member suffered serious leg injuries when he was run over by a forklift truck driven by a colleague.  The Medical team fought to save his leg. 

 

His employer’s accepted liability for the carelessness of the forklift truck driver.  Sadly, he was unable to return to his original job.  However, he was able to benefit from the support and assistance afforded to him by Amicus legal aid. 

 

 

Please remember to keep us informed of any changes to your email addresses so that you keep receiving future copies of the North West Bulletin. If you know of other colleagues who may be interested in receiving the bulletin, ask them to contact us at northwestbulletin@amicustheunion.org.

 

Don’t forget if you have any North West events or pieces of news you would like to include in the next Regional Bulletin please forward drafts to mailto:northwestbulletin@amicustheunion.org.

 

This bulletin has been produced by Karen Viquerat, if you have any comments please email Karen.Viquerat@amicustheunion.org or telephone on 01704 546 500.