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| 04/01/2010 |
UNISON gains more than £3m compensation for North West members personal injuries in 2009 |
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The UK's largest public sector union, gained £3,169,157.00 in personal injury compensation for members and their families in the North West. The compensation represents 487 legal cases for injuries and although road traffic accidents top the list, slips and falls, assaults, needlestick and back injuries make up some of the most common forms of injury at work. Nationally, UNISON gained £28,787,913 in 3,728 legal cases.
Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:
"This £28m represents a huge amount of pain and suffering by members and their families. Our members work in many different areas - nurses, social workers, care workers, dinner ladies, teaching assistants and librarians - but what they all have in common is that their jobs are never considered to be dangerous. But these statistics show that in the worst cases, members are left severely disabled and others are forced to give up work, through injury.
"Sadly, many of these accidents could and should have been prevented by employers. Too often we hear health and safety directives being ridiculed. However, it is clear that some employers are still not taking the necessary steps to safeguard their staff.
"It is disgraceful that in 2009 so many UNISON members have suffered crippling back injuries, when, given the proper training or equipment, these could be prevented. And the number of attacks on staff going about their jobs is sickening. We need to make sure that anyone found guilty of assaulting a public sector worker is given a tough sentence, to act as a deterrent.
"I am calling on all employers to do all they can to make 2010 a safe and injury free year for their staff."
Case from the North West
In June, a gardener, who was diagnosed with asbestos related cancer and told he had only months to live, was awarded £205,000. Mr Gaffney was exposed to asbestos while working for the University of Liverpool during the 1980s. The 57-year-old grandfather-of-five used to take his lunch breaks in the university boiler room, which had asbestos insulation. In July the family of John Toker, 65, a joiner from Liverpool, also called for employers to be aware of asbestos dangers at work after he died from mesothelioma before he could spend his compensation from Sefton Borough Council.
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CONTACT DETAILS
• To find out more about membership benefits contact our helpline, UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845. Lines are open 6am-midnight Mon to Fri and 9am-4pm Sat.
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