Are you a trade union rep concerned about the temperature in your workplace?

 

In the week 14 – 20 July,

@The_TUC

is inviting union health and safety reps to check their workplace temperatures. Help organise for safer, cooler workplaces!

Sign up now for our week of action, 14-20 July: https://tuc.org.uk/news/workplace-temperatures-week-action#:~:text=In%20the%20week%20of%2014,safer%2C%20cooler%20workplaces%20this%20summer!

TUC - Tackling high temperatures at work: Wednesday 18 June 2025 | 14:00- 15:00

 

High temperatures are a major problem in the workplace, especially during summer. Excessive heat can cause dizziness, fainting, and heat cramps, posing serious health risks. Workers in outdoor sites, warehouses, and kitchens are particularly vulnerable. Union reps play a crucial role in advocating for safer conditions. Join Shelly Asquith, Health and Safety Policy Officer at the TUC, and Miranda Irwin, Coordinator at Heat Strike, to learn how reps can organise for cooler and safer workplaces.

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR

...and don't forget to join our workplace temperatures week of action

In the week of 14 – 20 July, we're asking union health and safety reps to inspect their workplace temperatures. Let’s take a collective temperature check, and use it to organise for safer, cooler workplaces this summer!   Sign up to take part, and we’ll send you all the tools you need, including a checklist and thermometer.

Attendees of our live webinar will receive a TUC digital credential to demonstrate what they have learned. Find out more about digital credentials. Live captions will be available during this webinar.

Workers Memorial Day: Friday 28 April 2023

 

This year UNISON Housing Association Branch will be remembering those who have died at work due to accidents at work or from work related ill health & diseases. It is also a campaigning day to fight for the living at work and their health and safety.

We will holding a wreath laying event at the "Clasping Hands" statute in Three Mills Green, Stratford, London E3 3DU at 1pm on Friday 28 April 2023. We have held this event now for many years but hope to get a good turn out post Covid. 

This beautiful statue is near the site of a ventilation shaft where 4 workers died in 1900. 3 of them perished while heroically trying to rescue a fellow worker.

The local MP, Lyn Brown has been invited and all trade unionists will be welcome as well as Safety advisors and anyone else, genuinely interested in health and safety at work. 

Please bring your trade union and Labour movement banners.

UNISON members from the nearby L&Q Housing headquarters will be walking to the site beforehand. The wreath laying and talk about what happened here and why it is important should last no more than 30 minutes or so.

If you are unable to attend this event then check out the TUC website for events local to you or arrange with your employer to carry out a general walkabout safety inspection of your workplace looking for obvious hazards. It is also Stress Awareness month so check on stress risk assessment arrangements and occupational health support for workers.

Picture from 2022 with UNISON National officer Andrew Dobbie giving a wonderful historical tlak on what happened in 1901. 

10th anniversary collapse of Rana Plaza garment factory Bangladesh: 1100 dead

Webinar on Global Company–Trade Union Agreements: A proxy for regulatory compliance & due diligence

As someone who has worked on and off in the borough for 30 years (I was there today) and been a trade union representative for most of this time on the Tower Hamlets Council Pension Committee (then its Pension Board), I can remember the shock of hearing about the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory. 1100 workers dead and many more injured in the quest for super cheap clothing for British and other Western retail stores.

Newham also has a significant Bangladesh community but I am sure that everyone was horrified at these needless deaths. The role of local trade unions is key to avoiding future disasters. I am more than happy to be chairing this important meeting.

Register here

"19 April at 3pm UK / 4pm CET

Next month marks the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza garment factory complex in Bangladesh, in which over 1,100 garment workers were killed. In the years since the tragedy, several promising initiatives have taken shape, involving collaboration between global labor unions and multinational brands, binding agreements and remedy mechanisms. These are part of an emerging model of supply chain industrial relations, and they include the International Accord for Health & Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry and ACT on Living Wages.

Learning lessons from the failures of “social auditing” and factory certification schemes, this newer model is centered on workers’ rights and company accountability for violations of these rights. Negotiated, binding agreements can also serve as a reliable proxy for investors for regulatory compliance as mandatory human rights due diligence (mHRDD) laws emerge.

And yet, despite its failures, social auditing persists, and proposed mHRDD laws even risk being weakened if such “private voluntary regulation” is allowed to substitute for true due diligence.

Against this backdrop, IndustriALL has commissioned a technical brief that delves into negotiated, binding agreements between business and trade unions, making the case that, besides reducing human rights risks to workers, they can mitigate business risk for investors in the new regulatory landscape. IndustriALL and LAPFF are pleased to invite you to an investor webinar on 19 April at 3pm (UK), where we will present the brief and hear worker and investor perspectives on this model.

The webinar will be chaired by Cllr John Gray from the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum and will include speakers from Due Diligence Design, Aviva Investors, IndustriALL Global Union and Bangladesh Garment & Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF)."

Nearly one million UK workers suffering from Work Related stress, depression or anxiety - 11% rise

 

Check out this article in the IOSH website about the 11% rise in work related stress reported by the Health & Safety Executive in their annual report. Very worrying for employers and unions. The HSE believe that nearly half of these workers believe this is linked to the Covid pandemic, while 123,000 believe that their occupational ill health was caused by catching Covid at work (which I believe happened to me last year but luckily I haven't suffered any long term effects).

I also remember many reports during the pandemic on the massive underreporting by many employers of workers killed by exposure to Covid while at work.

The cost of ill health and injuries at work is estimated to cost the UK a staggering £18.3 billion (pre pandemic). I continue also to shocked by the 13,000 workers who died from work related diseases (nevermind the 123 workers killed in accidents - this figure does not include all those who died at work in traffic accidents). 

That means around 36 workers die every day from work related ill health. If terrorists killed 36 people in a single day, we would quite rightly be outraged and "demand something be done".

I will be bringing up this finding on work related stress with my employer as a trade union appointed safety rep and also will see if I can find out more about what is happening to Newham workers as a Councillor on our health scrutiny committee.

TUC Webinar: Protecting workers from extreme temperatures in the workplace

A heatwave warning is now in place for the next week across much of England and Wales. How can unions protect workers from extreme temperatures? 

Take our 15-minute online course

As temperatures soar throughout the summer, employers are responsible for providing a working environment that is reasonably practical, safe and without risks to health. Are workers in your workplace at risk? What can you do to protect them? Our new course shows ways to assess extreme temperature risks in the workplace, and how to get your employer to act on them.
Take the course now.

Watch our webinar

Watch a recording of our recent webinar: Protecting workers from extreme temperatures on what reps can do to ensure their employers assess risks and introduce any necessary prevention or control measures in the workplace.

Sign our petition

Sign this petition calling on the government to change laws for an absolute maximum working temperature to keep people safe from the risks associated with excessive heat and sun exposure.

Workers Memorial Day – Thursday 28 April 2022

 

Every year on the 28 April in 19 countries across the world, workers remember all those who have died in an accident at work or from occupational illnesses and diseases such as exposure to asbestos. Sadly, more people are killed at work each year than die in wars. Many more suffer from work related disability or chronic ill health.

The theme for this year’s event following the many unnecessary deaths workers suffered from Covid is making sure that health and safety at work is a "fundamental employment right".

Greater London UNISON Housing Associations, has held an annual memorial in Stratford, East London for many years, organised by local members, other trade unions and some employer safety officers.

The annual memorial in Stratford takes place at Three Mills Green, E3 3DU behind the historic buildings nearby and next to the River Lea. It is about 10 minutes’ walk from Bromley-By-Bow underground station. 

There is a “clasping hands” statute at this site remembering the deaths of 4 workers who were suffocated in an underground vent. 3 Of them had sacrificed their lives while trying to rescue others by trying to pull them out of the vent but were overcome by fumes.  

Local MP Lyn Brown will be laying a wreath on behalf of UNISON at 11am on the day. All welcome. Please bring banners and assemble by 10.45. 

If you work outside London, check out this TUC website for an event near you https://www.tuc.org.uk/iwmd-events

Not only is this a day to remember the dead it is also a day to campaign and remind everyone of the risks they face at work and what can be done to reduce them.

In previous years in our branch line managers and UNISON members on 28 April were encouraged to go on joint “walkabouts” around their offices looking for simple slip and trip hazards while other workers had special “tool box” talks on relevant safety issues. With many employees still working from home for at least part of the week, 28 April could be the day to make sure you have an up-to-date home or office desktop risk assessment and you have any aids that are needed.

International Workers' Memorial Day in West Ham (& also remembering Uncle Harry)

Today is International Workers Memorial Day and this afternoon we remembered all those who have been killed at work or died of work related diseases at the beautiful "Clasping Hands" sculpture and memorial in Three Mills Green, Newham, East London.

The memorial remembers "Godfrey Maule Nicholson, Manager Of A Stratford Distillery, George Elliott And Robert Underhill, Workmen, Successively Went Down A Well To Rescue Comrades And Were Poisoned By Gas. July 12 1901". How sad and how fitting to remember this on this particular day.

Our Local Member of Parliament, Lyn Brown, a long standing UNISON member, laid a wreath on behalf of my trade union branch, Greater London UNISON Housing Associations, who have organised memorial events here for many years.

Due to Covid we were restricted this year on who could attend but many thanks to Lyn, Andrew (National UNISON officer for Community), Sonya and Eunice (UNISON activists) for attending.

Hopefully next year we will be able to organise properly and have a bigger and more inclusive event.

Lyn gave a lovely little speech about about how important this occasion was to her as a the local MP to honour workers, such as Robert Underhill, who must have gone down the well on that day, knowing what had happened to those who had tried beforehand to rescue others, but he still risked his life to save others and paid the ultimate price for doing so.

Lyn also mentioned "Uncle Harry". By coincidence this morning I received an email from the niece of Henry (Harry) Turner. She had seen notice of this event on the TUC website. Some 200 yards away from this sculpture, her uncle Harry, had been killed in 1965 during an explosion, in the Sun Flour Mill. He had been working at the site while employed by the London Electricity Board (so possibly a member of UNISON's predecessor trade unions?) . Four people were killed by the explosion. 

There are already the names of other workers killed nearby as well as those from 1901 on the memorial plinth. So maybe we should consider whether other names such as Uncle Harry should be added.

Workers Memorial Day - Tuesday 28 April 2020 Theme: Coronavirus

For a number of years my trade union branch (UNISON Greater London Housing Associations) and West Ham Labour Party have supported Workers Memorial Day with a ceremony at the "Clasping Hands" statute in Stratford.

Workers Memorial Day is an international event held every 28 April to remember workers who have been killed at work or have died from work related diseases.

This year we cannot hold such a physical memorial event due to Coronavirus social isolation requirements, but I think everyone understands that 2020 Workers Memorial Day, will be especially important, as we remember all the health and care workers who have died from Coronavirus as well all the other workers such as the bus drivers, cleaners and shop workers.

Check out the call by the TUC for a minutes silence at 11am on Tuesday 28 April.

I have to make the point that no one mentions at the current daily Government briefings on Coronavirus that we are now trying to play catch up after 10 years of austerity for the NHS and social care never mind the official ridicule and scorn shown in this past decade towards workers "elf & safety".

TUC LESE Annual Health & Safety Briefing – Respiratory Health – a Workplace Issue

TUC LESE Annual Health & Safety Briefing – Respiratory Health – a Workplace Issue

Friday 27 September 2019

Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

·        The central theme for this year is respiratory health, and asbestos past present and future will feature large.

·        This is an event for trade union health and safety reps and trade unionists interested in campaigning on health, safety and well-being issues at work or in the community.

·        Agenda and Guest Speakers to be confirmed  

·        Free event - please register: 020 7467 1218 / jowilliams@tuc.org.uk

Joanne Williams

Administrative Assistant

TUC London, East & South East

020 7467 1218

Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

tuc.org.uk 

"What it's like to be on the receiving end of a violent attack..." Lynn's Story and UNISON Charter on Violence at Work

Yesterday there was a Parliamentary launch of the UNISON Violence at Work Charter for the 3rd Sector (Housing Associations & Charities). There was a number of MPs and employers who turned up to support the launch. The contribution by UNISON Member, Lynn Gillespie, at this event about her violent assault at work will be unforgettable to anyone who heard it. 

"Hi. My name is Lynn Gillespie. I work for WM Housing and I’m a proud UNISON member and workplace rep. I’m here today to tell you what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a violent attack as a result of my work.

It is an accepted fact that those of us in public service have to, on occasion, deliver bad news or do something that may not be liked by our clients or customers . Sadly, this means there are occasions when people react in a violent or aggressive manner.

When I was a homeless officer I had a telephone, a chair and other miscellaneous objects thrown at me. I’ve also had a punch thrown at my face.

Thankfully, my husband was nearby and was able to protect me. As a result he received severe bruising to his back. I dread to think what might have happened had we not been rescued by two off duty firemen who saw the attack and shouted and as a result the assailants ran off.

That was in 1999, I was a tenancy enforcement officer by that time taking action against perpetrators of serious anti social behaviour. The impact on my family was more hurtful that my injuries as I could not see my daughters aged 5 and 7 for nearly a week as my face was so horribly bruised with a broken nose and cheekbone. They were spun a tale of mummy having ate something that did not agree with her that had given her an allergic reaction. They cried when they eventually saw me and that hurt even more.

What did help, was that I was totally supported at work by my manager who came to see me at home on the Monday as I had been due in Court and he took my court case from me and went to court himself. He was also armed with the largest bunch of flowers I had ever seen which as he pointed out would not take away the horror of the attack but hopefully would cheer me up.

My employers have always taken assaults on staff very seriously and we have an excellent internal reporting system in place for all assaults be they near misses, verbal abuse or threats or actual physical harm which thankfully does not happen too often. We do not hesitate to take action against the perpetrators and if they are our tenants we take action against their tenancy.

I am also proud to say that my employer, WM Housing, was the first organisation to sign up to the Violence at Work Charter having already put in place everything on the list.

Sadly, the stories from UNISON members in the Third Sector is that nowhere near enough employers take this responsible approach. Too many workers in the sector are being expected to put up with violent and aggressive behaviour, being told that it is part of the job. The Violence at work charter is my union’s attempt to draw a line in the sand. We say enough is enough. Committed charity and housing association workers, in fact, no workers, should be assaulted as a result of their public service.

Please go back to your employers and encourage them to sign if they have not already as we have to take a stand against this unfortunate fact of working life that affects far too many of us working in our sector.

Thank you for listening".

International Workers Memorial Day 2018 Newham: "Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living"

Today is International Workers Memorial Day which remembers workers who have been killed at work or died of industrial injuries or diseases. It is also a health & safety campaigning day to protect the living.

This morning Labour Party members & trade union activists in Newham paid homage to local heroes who sacrificed their lives to try and save their fellow workers. At this site (now called Three Mills Green Park) in 1901, managers at a nearby brewery ordered a disused ventilation mine shaft to be reopened.

A worker was sent down to the shaft to inspect it. He was quickly overwhelmed by noxious fumes at the bottom of the shaft. In turn 3 other workers bravely also went down and tried to rescue their comrades but all were killed in doing so.

At the inquest management were rightly condemned for failing to follow even the basic health and safety measures of the time. A lighted candle should have been lowered down first to check for fumes. If they had used trained and specialist staff this tragedy would never have happened.

UNISON Housing Association Branch (HAB),  West Ham Labour Party TULO & local trade unions have organised a wreath laying memorial event at this site for a number of years

This year West Ham MP Lyn Brown and Newham Councillor, Rokhsana Fiaz (who is also the Newham Labour Mayoral Candidate) spoke at this event and laid separate wreaths on behalf of UNISON HAB and West Ham Labour at the striking and beautiful "Clasping Hands" memorial in the park. It was a moving occasion. I will post the speech by Lyn Brown later.

We are planning to return to this memorial in the near future since it needs a bit of a clean (after getting the full agreement with the Lea Valley Park). Many thanks to Tim, the Park Ranger for attending and his helpfulness in arranging this event. 

Workers' Memorial Day - Saturday 28 April 2018 10.45-11.15am at Clasping Hands Statue, 3 Mills Green, E3 3DU

This is a really important event in the Labour movement calendar and takes place, I think, at the most significant but unknown example of historic working class art in East London. I hope that as many members of the Labour Movement family can attend as possible. Keynote speakers invited. 

11 weeks until the TUC National Inspection Day

Pre-header text goes here   |    Send to a friend   |    View in a browser August 2017 TUC National Inspection Day - Wednesday 25 October It's 11 weeks until the TUC National Inspection Day and UNISON is encouraging safety reps to specifically consider inspections focusing on whether the workplace is healthy for all ages. With the working population ageing and apprenticeship schemes being introduced as an alternative to schooling, this couldn't be more important.  Today’s young worker is more than likely to be tomorrows older worker, but only if work is safe and healthy for all ages. Safety reps can use inspections to consider not only the tangible hazards such as slips and trips, fire, and work stations. They should also focus on intangible hazards and solutions, including: shift work, job rotation, and flexible working. Remember, workplaces with active safety reps are twice as safe. So carry out an inspection on national inspection day and: - raise awareness of the issues; - identify concerns to raise with the employer; - raise the profile of safety reps; - meet members, hear their concerns, and ask if they would like to get more involved or become a safety rep; and - meet non-members, as issues they raise may also concern members or present opportunities for success or recruitment. UNISON has various resources which will be of use including our: - safety rep guide on workplace safety inspections, - other guides available from the online catalogue and/or the get help pages, - National Inspection Day webpage, and - European Health and Safety Week webpage.

Grenfall Tower Fire - The shock and the horror but East Enders rally to help

Like everyone I was horrified at the news reports and pictures this morning at the fire and destruction of Grenfall Tower in Kensington.  I have been a housing officer in London for the past 25 years and have managed a number of similar high rise residential blocks, I was deeply shocked.

As a Unison trained Health & Safety representative (and member of IOSH)  I have been assured over the years, many, many times that such a thing could "never happen".

I am also a West Ham ward Councillor (London Borough of Newham) and this evening, I had by coincidence, my monthly surgery in the Tenants and Residents room in a 21 storey high rise and a concerned resident, who lived on the 14th floor, did come and ask me what is being done to reassure her and her family that they were safe. She asked if she needed some sort of ladder in her flat?

I have raised a member's enquiry asking for copies of all fire risk assessments for tower blocks in my ward. I have also offered to arrange joint inspections with residents, council officers and ward councillors of all our high rise blocks.

I also asked what has happened to our Newham Housing residents' scrutiny panel which has not met for a long time? Involving residents meaningfully in the management of their homes is crucial to ensuring their safety.

I did also speak tonight to Councillor Terry Paul, who is our Mayoral Advisor on Housing, who assured me that everything possible will be done to make sure our residents are safe and also keep them informed what is being done.

After the surgery, I went to the West Ham Labour Executive meeting in our HQ in Stratford. This evening (not now) our HQ was a base for local residents to drop off donations for Grenfall Tower Residents.

We had some people dropping off bags of donations.  Kay and her Mum, Mrs Brewer, (see above picture of them with Terry and Party member Karl Lewis) from Canning Town, who turned up with a car load of around 15 bags of donations. They explained that Canning Town had many tower blocks and local residents had been pleased to donate.

I dropped off the donations at Coffee7 in Forest Gate (see bottom picture). What a fantastic and generous community response!

Please check with the various charity organisers before dropping off any more donations at any locations.