Britain's Health and Safety Commission has reported an 18% increase in the number of warnings issued. Shaun Cohen reports that the number of prosecutions initiated by the HSE increased 11% between 1997 and 1998, of which 77% resulted in a conviction. The average fine rose 25% to £3,886 (US$6,225).
The report doesn't say how many of the 29,320 major work place accidents were investigated. The lower the rate of investigation the greater the level of corporate immunity.
In 1996/97 the rate of investigation into major workplace injuries was less than 10%. Only 7 of the 67 blindings, 281 of the 1,006 amputations and 135 of the 622 burns were investigated.
There are no figures about the number of companies and directors being prosecuted. But data from the West Midlands Health & Safety Advice Centre shows that between 1990 and 1992 only 5% of major injuries resulted in prosecutions.
In 1996-97 only 15% of the 679 deaths led to prosecutions under health and safety legislation. Somewhat disappointing, since even the HSE blames management failure for 70% of workplace deaths
Of the 1,654 prosecutions initiated by the HSE, only six senior officers were charged. Althoug during the same period it prosecuted 24 workers. * Source: Health and Safety Commission Annual Report, November 1998, as reviewed in Socialist Outlook
after O'Connor's began sub-contracting work to a 'subbie', E. Moran Ltd.
For the men's court appearance, hundreds of building workers downed tools at 25 sites across Dublin and converged on the court waving placards like "Free the workers - jail the bankers"
Simultaneous solidarity protests by building workers occurred in Limerick, Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny. All the solidarity action was illegal and went against the advice of the Union leadership, which condemned both the original action and the solidarity activity.
When the men were imprisoned (for contempt of court), hundreds of workers brought traffic on Dublin's O'Connell
(over f1bn). And at the same time it is cutting back on public spending on health and pubic services. Euro preparations mean cuts
A recent IMF directors' report warned the Irish government not to start dipping into its budget surplus, since the state treasury will need large fiscal reserves to enable it to manoeuvre within the new Euro single currency regime.
Already a major row has broken out at Galway Hospital over the state's refusal to spend any of its surplus to prevent the closure of two vital wards.
Most staff at the hospital attended an angry protest meeting to fight the cuts. Nurses are already on a work to rule and threatening a national stoppage.
More and more potential for explosive class conflict is building up within southern Irish society. Increasing numbers of working class people feel alienated by the gross social inequalities and moral hypocrisies. Workers are pleased that the economy is booming but also realise that they are not getting a deserved share of the new wealth. * Source: Socialist Outlook street to a halt. Later that evening there EuroMarches '99 - Cologne, Germany were clashes with the police outside Mountjoy prison. The two men have served their sentence, but the struggle to end the exploitation on the sites is set to become more intense.
Workers in Dublin are currently picketing three Sisk sites against the victimisation of two shop stewards. A small rank and file group is effectively arguing for action beyond the control of the union bureaucracy. New period
It seems that a new period of deepening class conflict is developing in southern Ireland. A comfy future with the type of social partnership arrangements favoured by the bureaucracy is looking unlikely.
The ideology of the prosperous Celtic Tiger has raised material expectations. Thousands of workers are fed up seeing the bosses getting rich and arrogant on the back of their continual pay restraint and tougher working conditions.
The state is boasting of its biggest-ever current account financial surplus,
The European Marches (organiser of the mass demonstration in Amsterdam in '97) is calling another major protest (50,000 or more) in Cologne in June to coincide with the Summit of European Union
Marchers will set out from every region of Germany and from other European cities including Prague, Luxembourg. and Paris, to converge on Cologne for the demo. There will be a (1,000 strong) march from Brussels to Cologne.
Across Europe unemployment, job insecurity, social exclusion and poverty are growing. The demands • A guaranteed job for all, and a decent standard of living. • For an immediate massive reduction of working hours, coordinated on a European level, without loss of wages or purchasing power. • Opposition to compulsory part- time work, child labour, and social • Opposition to the enrichment of the minority and the impoverishment of the majority. • The redistribution of wealth. • Opposition to all forms of exclusion and discrimination, including those based on gender or race. Yes to the full right of asylum for the • Defend the welfare state. Yes to social rights in all areas housing, education, health etc.) with the necessary funding
The European Marches are appealing to the peoples of Europe, to associations, trade unions and social forces, to make June 5th 1999 a massive day of mobilisation.
Final plans were made at an open conference in Cologne on January 23-24th. National committees will launch the campaign in the coming