HSE Cuts Begin In North West

Unions and MPs have warned drastic cutbacks to the Health and Safety Executive will lead to more work-related ill-health and injuries. HSE union PCS said plans to close the safety watchdog's offices in Preston and Manchester, moving the work to its headquarters in Bootle, will be damaging to workers.

Issuing a press release when the closures first came to the knowledge of the Union last December, the PCS said:

The union believes that shutting offices in Preston and Manchester and moving the work to its headquarters in Bootle will not only mean the loss of local jobs, but also any savings made by HSE will be wiped out by increased days lost to injury and illness in the wider north west economy.

While the union acknowledges HSE faces financial difficulties with the savage 35% funding cut imposed by the coalition government, it says this move shows the overriding consideration is cost, rather than improving the health and wellbeing of workers. PCS plans to meet HSE management in early January to argue against the closures.

PCS negotiations officer Jayson Sloss said: “An alternative proposal to retain downsized offices in Preston and Manchester was far more preferable. It would maintain quality health and safety provision while still offering savings to HSE, and it is disappointing that HSE rejected this possibility.”

Paula Brown, PCS national executive member and chair of the union’s HSE branch, said: “HSE's own study showed that at least one in five staff will seek to leave following the move to Bootle, with the figure rising to more than half of lower paid staff. The loss of skills and local knowledge will take years to replace.”

This is just the beginning of the attack by the Con-Dem(ned) coalition on the North West. Thousands of jobs will go at the HMRC as they plan to close their flagship Liverpool office at Queens Dock by 2012.

Source: PCS / TUC Risks

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