Everyone has the right to a safe workplace. No-one should be injured or made ill because of their work.
The best way to ensure that workers are protected is to have union Health & Safety (H&S) reps. Therefore, UCU is looking to identify members to serve as H&S reps, playing a crucial role in communicating H&S concerns and ensuring employees’ safety needs are met. According to the UNIAC external auditor, University restructures have damaged the H&S provision and accidents have been increasing.
The University has many health, safety and welfare committees, on which UCU needs representation. Commitment can be as little as attending one committee meeting per year, though most are still only once a quarter. We will ensure proper support, with available training courses, shadowing opportunities, and H&S professionals within UMUCU at hand to advise. By law, you are entitled to reasonable paid time off from your role to undertake these duties.
If you are interested in taking on this important role, please email ucu@manchester.ac.uk, so we can discuss the responsibilities and next steps. Your participation will contribute greatly to promoting a safe workplace for everyone.