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Ucatt 'break with New Labour' plan - Cancer worries over silica
00:00 18 Feb 1998
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A group of members from the Union of Construction Allied Trades and
Technicians (Ucatt) are urging disenchanted trade unions to
affiliate to the Socialist Labour Party.
Robert Morris, a member of the Sheffield branch of Ucatt, has written a petition letter to union officials, in which he argues for the affiliation of the Yorkshire region to the Socialist Labour Party.
Ucatt officials turned down the proposal as inappropriate in rule and principle, because the union as a whole is affiliated to New Labour.
Morris argued that public/private partnerships, proposed by New Labour, gave too much control to management over exploited workers.
Lou Lewis, Ucatt's London and south-eastern regional secretary, said: "Ucatt is traditionally steeped in Stallinism.
"The union's roots are traditionally communist, but now the union is affiliated to Labour. It is not surprising that others express compassion for the socialists."
George Henderson, national secretary of the Trade and General Workers Union, said: "New Labour is making steps towards the future, they have agreed to release capital receipts, signed the social contract, and promoted the way forward with partnerships.
"It seems other unions have a lack of patience, New Labour has the opportunity and power to make a difference.
"We must work together with the majority parties, who have the power to voice opinion, rather than struggling with militant minorities who can have little impact." The presence of crystalline silica in building materials could cause cancer in workers forced to handle such substances.
New research confirming that crystalline silica, found in sand, can cause cancer, will be the subject of an international conference being organised in London by the International Society of the Built Environment
The meeting has been sparked by a report from the International Agency for Research into Cancer, a World Health Organisation agency, claiming that some types of crystalline silica can cause cancer if inhaled.
In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reacted to the report by placing hazard warning labels on materials containing more than 0.1 per cent crystalline silica. If such an approach were extended to the UK, via European regulations, it would mean almost all building materials being labelled in a similar way.
Dr John Hoskins, a consultant on mixed fibres and toxicology, believes UK health and safety regulations are sufficient to protect construction workers from the dangers of crystalline silica.
"The threat to construction workers is negligible if the rules set by the Health and Safety Executive are abided by," he said.
Hoskins reveals that workers who regularly deal with stone are most at risk. "Stone masons, cutters and those dealing with the manufacture of bricks come into contact with crystalline silica and they are more likely to develop silicosis than cancer," he said.
The organisers of the conference are hoping to spark a rational discussion and be able to put the issues related to crystalline silica into perspective for the Health and Safety Executive. "We are concerned to avoid a knee- jerk reaction developing that equates walking on the beach with an increased danger of getting cancer from crystalline silica," said Hoskins.
l For further details about the conference on June 15 contact: ISBE, on 01480 810687.
Robert Morris, a member of the Sheffield branch of Ucatt, has written a petition letter to union officials, in which he argues for the affiliation of the Yorkshire region to the Socialist Labour Party.
Ucatt officials turned down the proposal as inappropriate in rule and principle, because the union as a whole is affiliated to New Labour.
Morris argued that public/private partnerships, proposed by New Labour, gave too much control to management over exploited workers.
Lou Lewis, Ucatt's London and south-eastern regional secretary, said: "Ucatt is traditionally steeped in Stallinism.
"The union's roots are traditionally communist, but now the union is affiliated to Labour. It is not surprising that others express compassion for the socialists."
George Henderson, national secretary of the Trade and General Workers Union, said: "New Labour is making steps towards the future, they have agreed to release capital receipts, signed the social contract, and promoted the way forward with partnerships.
"It seems other unions have a lack of patience, New Labour has the opportunity and power to make a difference.
"We must work together with the majority parties, who have the power to voice opinion, rather than struggling with militant minorities who can have little impact." The presence of crystalline silica in building materials could cause cancer in workers forced to handle such substances.
New research confirming that crystalline silica, found in sand, can cause cancer, will be the subject of an international conference being organised in London by the International Society of the Built Environment
The meeting has been sparked by a report from the International Agency for Research into Cancer, a World Health Organisation agency, claiming that some types of crystalline silica can cause cancer if inhaled.
In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reacted to the report by placing hazard warning labels on materials containing more than 0.1 per cent crystalline silica. If such an approach were extended to the UK, via European regulations, it would mean almost all building materials being labelled in a similar way.
Dr John Hoskins, a consultant on mixed fibres and toxicology, believes UK health and safety regulations are sufficient to protect construction workers from the dangers of crystalline silica.
"The threat to construction workers is negligible if the rules set by the Health and Safety Executive are abided by," he said.
Hoskins reveals that workers who regularly deal with stone are most at risk. "Stone masons, cutters and those dealing with the manufacture of bricks come into contact with crystalline silica and they are more likely to develop silicosis than cancer," he said.
The organisers of the conference are hoping to spark a rational discussion and be able to put the issues related to crystalline silica into perspective for the Health and Safety Executive. "We are concerned to avoid a knee- jerk reaction developing that equates walking on the beach with an increased danger of getting cancer from crystalline silica," said Hoskins.
l For further details about the conference on June 15 contact: ISBE, on 01480 810687.