Vic Unions Demand Tougher Penalties

Date: 28 April 2003

Victorian unionists will gather at the Victorian Trades Hall Council workers memorial rock today (Monday 28 April) at 10.30am as part of the 8th International Workers Memorial Day, to remember those who have died in workplace accidents and demand "employer accountability".

VTHC secretary Leigh Hubbard said tougher penalties were needed to deal with serious breaches of occupational health and safety laws that led to workplace deaths.

"So far this year nine workers have lost their lives in preventable work related tragedies in Victoria. We urge the Bracks government to begin an immediate review of the OHS Act to ensure tougher penalties, including criminal sanctions, apply to those employers whose gross negligence results in a workplace death."

Mr Hubbard said the focus of this year's Workers' Memorial Day was on employer accountability and respect for workers' rights.

"Working people demand respect and dignity in the workplace. It is not acceptable for employers to shirk their responsibilities in the area or health and safety. You are dealing with human life the value of which cannot be secondary to company profits", Mr Hubbard said.

CFMEU (Victoria) secretary Martin Kingham said the recent royal commission into the building and construction industry posed a serious threat to workplace health and safety.

"The royal commission exposed itself as biased and anti-union, particularly by refusing to investigate serious health and safety concerns. They chose instead to target union officials for protecting workers' health and safety rights, and leave the bosses who cut corners on health and safety to get away with blue murder."

Industrial Deaths Support & Advocacy (IDSA)secretary Deanne May said Workers' Memorial Day provided an opportunity to remember those lost to workplace tragedies and to highlight the need for prevention.

"People should not be dying at work. No family should be deprived of their loved one because of a senseless tragedy that happened due to an employers' refusal to provide a safe working environment," Ms May said.

For further information

Union:	Labor Council of NSW
WWW:	http://vthc.org.au/media/union_news/20030428_memorial.html

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]