In December '07, Unionsafety carried a report from Dave Joyce, CWU National Health & Safety Officer on the risk to safety legislation that a future Tory government posed. Since then sustained attacks on health & safety legislation has continued in the media in general and the Tory press in particular.

In last weeks Tory party conference, Michael Gove Shadow Spokesperson for Children Schools and Families made it clear that the Tory attacks on health & safety legislation are unabated and now even involved removing legislation which covered school children's safety.

The Teacher's union, NASUWT, were appalled and issued this press release:

"References to sweeping aside health and safety legislation may play well with the Party faithful, but they will cause deep alarm to any right minded person. It is nothing short of reckless to pledge to remove regulation which is fundamental to the health and welfare of young people and adults."

Commenting on the speech on education by Michael Gove, Shadow Spokesperson for Children, Schools and Families at the Conservative Party Conference, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest UK-wide teachers' union, said:
 
"The speech was high on rhetoric and low on detail but it was tinged with chilling references to failed Conservative Education policies of the past.
 
"The picture Mr Gove painted of an education service in chaos and riddled with failure is not only grossly inaccurate but it is also a grave disservice to schools, teachers and head teachers who have done so much to raise standards of education. 
 
"The absence of any acknowledgement or thanks to the school workforce for their hard-work, dedication and commitment was stark and will not go unnoticed.
 
"References to sweeping aside health and safety legislation may play well with the Party faithful, but they will cause deep alarm to any right minded person. It is nothing short of reckless to pledge to remove regulation which is fundamental to the health and welfare of young people and adults.
 
"The only positive note was struck by the reference to the continuing commitment to support teachers in maintaining high standards of discipline in schools and abolishing the independent appeals panels - a long held policy of the NASUWT."

Read Michael Groves speech here

Read Dave Joyce's original article here

Source: NAUWT / TUC Risks