NASUWT National Executive Member Wayne Broom has told TUC Congress that Brexit must not provide the opportunity for vital health and safety protections for workers to be stripped away.
Speaking on a motion on protecting worker and trade union rights in the EU Brexit at the Congress in Brighton today, he highlighted the drive by the UK Government to undermine and deregulate health and safety legislation.
He said: “David Cameron said, in 2012, that he wanted to "kill off the health and safety culture for good"; stating health and safety legislation has become an "albatross around the neck of British businesses. This view is undoubtedly shared by many of those at the top of government.
“At the moment, however, the axe is being held at bay, not because of the lack of will, but because of successive EU directives.
“Without these, all of the current health and safety protections will be seen as ‘fair game’ by this Government, and unscrupulous employers will seek to maximise profits at the expense of workers and their families.
“So called red tape is better than bloody bandages.”
