Unions and businesses clash on health and safety
Posted by ~Ray @ 2008-10-10 03:25:05
The Scottish Trades Union Congress has criticised claims by theFederation of Small Businesses that health and safety legislation holdsthe British economy back.
The STUC claims that the FSB's report Whatever Happened to CommonSense? appears to suggest that small businesses should receivepreferential treatment in protecting workers’ safety. General Secretary Grahame Smith said: "The STUC have been workingclosely with the Scottish Government and other partners including theFSB in Scotland to support small businesses. It is disappointing tofind the FSB nationally arguing for employees of their members tohave less protection in the workplace than others for questionableeconomic reasons."This report appears to be arguing for preferential treatment for smallbusinesses in an area of legislation that was introduced in 1974 toprotect all workers irrespective of the size of organisation in whichthey work."The comments about the UK 'gold plating' legislation are fantasy asthe battles trade unions have faced with the Government on theapplication of EU Directives in the UK have proven."“The Government has consistently given too much weight to the views ofemployers large and small on of the EU Working Hours Directive theEuropean Health and Safety Directive and minimum holiday entitlement. Consequently they have interpreted legislation in a way that is moreappropriately described as tin plated rather than gold plated”. Smith pointed to the example of the Stockline tragedy. "The events ofMay 11 2004 when nine workers lost their lives working for a smallbusiness in Maryhill support this view. Evidence suggests that in thatcase failures developed over a period of 35 years and should have beenpicked up."
However Andrew Watson of the FSB in Scotland said that the STUC had deliberately distorted what it was trying to achieve. "Simplification of health and safety law would make it easier for small businesses to implement legislation and ensure their workers are protected. "Small firms spend seven hours a week dealing with regulation which could be better spent focusing on growing the business and taking on more employees. If the STUC was serious about making workplaces safer and increasing employment they would support our campaign for shorter and clearer health and safety legislation."
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