Unions lobby to strengthen kill bill

The government’s corporate- killing Bill, as it stands and without strengthening, will lead to no more than an extra five safety prosecutions at most per year, according to construction unions.

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill last week successfully passed its second reading in the House of Commons. It now goes to the committee stage, where it may be subject to amendment before becoming law.

Unions led by the TGWU and UCATT are lobbying intensively to “beef up” the Bill with amendments, which will provide for the imprisonment of negligent company directors.

Alan Ritchie, UCATT general secretary, commented: “A crucial test of this Bill is whether it will be able to hold the guilty to account in the future. And, at the moment, it won’t.”

Tony Woodley, TGWU general secretary, added: “The Bill hands negligent directors a ‘get out of gaol free’ card and will not deliver justice or safer workplaces.”

[Contract Journal, 18 October 2006, p 4]