LTB No 889/11 Simpson Millar Solicitors Letter of Support

[brothermagrew]

LTB No. 889/11 Ref P18 Date: 24 October 2011

To: All Branches,

Dear Colleagues

CWU 'Bite-Back' Campaign - Letter of Support from Simpson Millar Solicitors:

Attached is an excellent letter of support for the CWU 'Bite-Back' Campaign from Simpson Millar Solicitors. Solicitors from a number of leading laws have joined the Union's call for all dog owners to keep control of their dogs with 5,000-6000 postal workers being attacked and injured every year by dogs. Many left permanently disfigured or disabled.

With firms such as Simpson Millar, Irwin Mitchell, Thompsons and Cooper & Co supporting the Union's campaign, dog bite experts at these Law firm have claimed that many more injuries caused by dog bites could be avoided if owners took more responsibility and if the UK had Laws that help the irresponsible to account!

Although the vast majority of dog owners are responsible, dog bites have become an all too regular occurrence, particularly amongst postal workers and children. The injuries sustained by people bitten by dangerous dogs not sufficiently controlled by their owners are often horrific and can cause lasting mental and physical scars. Recent cases have again highlighted the damage that can be done if dogs are allowed to run loose in private as well as public places. Many of the dogs involved should not be allowed out, off the lead in places where workers, members of the public and children are frequently visiting or passing by.

The CWU, backed by these Lawyers firms, the Police, Dog Wardens, Charities, TUC, Unions, Nurses, Vets have and continue to repeatedly call for a changes in the law which would provide a better level of protection to the postal workers, BT workers, other workers who visit homes and commercial premises as well as the public. This should take the form of extending the law to private places, introducing Dog Control Notices, compulsory microchipping and compulsory insurance for dogs, as these would particularly be useful in ensuring pets in the UK can be both properly identified and registered and their owners being required to be responsible and held to account in criminal law should they fail to do so. This would also help victims of dog attacks to seek justice over the injuries they have suffered.

Members who are victims of Dog Attacks will remember the harrowing, painful experience for the rest of his lives and the scars will be an unwelcome reminder. These are vicious and brutal attacks and we are widely supported in our call for measures to help control dogs so that others don’t suffer as our members and others do.

The main objective is ensuring that dogs are correctly controlled at all times in private and public places. Owners must bear in mind at all times that any dog has the potential to behave unpredictably in any given situation, and it is vital that owners control and secure their pets in both private and public places to avoid incidents where innocent people can get hurt.

The Union has worked hard to widen our campaign and strengthen our links and working relationships with other organisations. A key component of our Union's campaign to work with and gain the support of all like minded organisations in order to campaign together in partnership with the strength of a common voice.

A major meeting has been jointly organised by CWU, RSPCA and Dogs Trust on 24 October, involving around 30 key Organisations to discuss campaigning strategy on how to take forward the objectives of the "Bite-Back" Campaign and further reports will be issued to Branches in due course. Those organisations attending the 'Campaign Coalition meeting' include: RSPCA, Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Mayhew Animal Home, Guide Dogs for The Blind, Unite, UNISON, GMB, USDAW, Prospect, CWU,  BVA, RCVS, BSAVA, Local Authorities, GLA, Royal College of Nursing, National Dog Wardens Association Police Federation, Association of Chief Police Officers, Lawyers, Dog Trainers etc.

There is now wide spread consensus around the need to for new laws on dog control. The case for changing the law could not be stronger.

The Union's campaign has succeeded in getting the Dangerous Dogs Laws changed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Welsh Assembly support our campaign for change. The 'Bite-Back' campaign is now centred on Westminster where the Coalition Government have still not made any firm announcement to change the Dangerous Dogs Laws covering England and Wales despite the Prime Minister promising the CWU they would in a letter received last April.
 
Please see attached a letter from Peter Watson Managing Partner Simpson Millar Solicitors for your information. Simpson Millar Solicitors of course do a great job representing CWU members who are the victim of dog attacks and other workplace injuries and road traffic accidents.
 
Yours Sincerely
 
Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Simpson Millar Letter Supporting CWU Bite Back Campaign.pdf

[Pinky 1]

..... and just to add, these attacks always increase during school holidays.
It's half term at the moment, so to all delivery staff, be careful out there.

[DB1100]

Did Dave Joyce actually write that letter? if so he should be ashamed

[brothermagrew]

Did Dave Joyce actually write that letter? if so he should be ashamed

The LTB is issued from the CWU Health and Safety Department on behalf of Dave Joyce, the letter of support is from Peter Watson Managing Partner Simpson Millar Solicitors. Pray tell your reasoning in why he should be ashamed.

[DB1100]

Did Dave Joyce actually write that letter? if so he should be ashamed

The LTB is issued from the CWU Health and Safety Department on behalf of Dave Joyce, the letter of support is from Peter Watson Managing Partner Simpson Millar Solicitors. Pray tell your reasoning in why he should be ashamed.

Have you read it? I mean the first letter not the D/L I am not an educated man,no O levels or A levels but if I was going to write a letter on such a serious matter I would make sure it was free of such basic mistakes,read and tell me if I am wrong here are a few
Solicitors from a number of leading laws have joined the Union's call =should be law firms
dog bite experts at these Law firm have claimed that many more injuries caused by dog bites could be avoided if owners took more responsibility and if the UK had Laws that help the irresponsible to account!=How does one become a dog bite expert? and that last bit doesn't make sense either
Members who are victims of Dog Attacks will remember the harrowing, painful experience for the rest of his lives and the scars will be an unwelcome reminder=instead of his it should read their
and that is without really trying,for a person in such a responsible position to write such a badly worded letter doesn't inspire confidence does it? I suppose now you will tell me he wrote this in a hurry or someone else should have checked it for him or any of the other excuses people give,I await with eagerness your reply.

[brothermagrew]

First let me say DB1100 whilst making me laugh, let those without sin cast the first stone, and that you only need to look at your own postings for the odd mistake. No one is perfect when it comes down to grammatical errors when typing is involved, I've done it myself numerous times in postings that I've typed on RMC and will probably continue to do so. You should chill, as apart from the grammatical errors the essence of the LTB was easily understood. Perhaps like RMC the CWU should invest in a spell checker.

And yes I did read it in full (mistakes and all).

[DB1100]

First let me say DB1100 whilst making me laugh, let those without sin cast the first stone, and that you only need to look at your own postings for the odd mistake. No one is perfect when it comes down to grammatical errors when typing is involved, I've done it myself numerous times in postings that I've typed on RMC and will probably continue to do so. You should chill, as apart from the grammatical errors the essence of the LTB was easily understood. Perhaps like RMC the CWU should invest in a spell checker.

And yes I did read it in full (mistakes and all).

I agree my friend but first impressions count and as I will almost certainly never meet Mr Joyce the impression I get is of a person who doesn't take the time to get the basic's right.I know I make mistakes brothermagrew but I am not in a position of power I am just a small cog in a not too well oiled machine just trying to raise the standards mucker.One does like one's Officers to be able to string a sentence or two together.

[brothermagrew]

First let me say DB1100 whilst making me laugh, let those without sin cast the first stone, and that you only need to look at your own postings for the odd mistake. No one is perfect when it comes down to grammatical errors when typing is involved, I've done it myself numerous times in postings that I've typed on RMC and will probably continue to do so. You should chill, as apart from the grammatical errors the essence of the LTB was easily understood. Perhaps like RMC the CWU should invest in a spell checker.

And yes I did read it in full (mistakes and all).

I agree my friend but first impressions count and as I will almost certainly never meet Mr Joyce the impression I get is of a person who doesn't take the time to get the basic's right.I know I make mistakes brothermagrew but I am not in a position of power I am just a small cog in a not too well oiled machine just trying to raise the standards mucker.One does like one's Officers to be able to string a sentence or two together.

Mate both you me and Mr Joyce are only human therefore fallable and prone to making the odd mistake or small gaffe now and then. However, the impression that I as a CWU Health and Safety Rep get of Dave Joyce is that he is a first class health and safety National Officer since he took office, and is therefore a credit to our Union. Compared to Billy and other National Officers I'm afraid to say Dave Joyce wins hands down. You and others may not agree but that is your and their perogative. Like your goodself I have never met him personally but I have on many an ocassion Emailed his Department seeking either clarification/advice or general queries on many a health and safety subject. I have to say the man has at least took the time out of his busy schedule to respond in kind. Whether you agree or not is neither here nor there, he has undoubtedly raised the profile of health and safety within the workplace and throughout the organisation/business to the top of the agenda as it should be, and for that he should thanked. You asked for fairness in a previous post of yours on this forum I think I have given you a fair response.

[DB1100]

First let me say DB1100 whilst making me laugh, let those without sin cast the first stone, and that you only need to look at your own postings for the odd mistake. No one is perfect when it comes down to grammatical errors when typing is involved, I've done it myself numerous times in postings that I've typed on RMC and will probably continue to do so. You should chill, as apart from the grammatical errors the essence of the LTB was easily understood. Perhaps like RMC the CWU should invest in a spell checker.

And yes I did read it in full (mistakes and all).

I agree my friend but first impressions count and as I will almost certainly never meet Mr Joyce the impression I get is of a person who doesn't take the time to get the basic's right.I know I make mistakes brothermagrew but I am not in a position of power I am just a small cog in a not too well oiled machine just trying to raise the standards mucker.One does like one's Officers to be able to string a sentence or two together.

Mate both you me and Mr Joyce are only human therefore fallable and prone to making the odd mistake or small gaffe now and then. However, the impression that I as a CWU Health and Safety Rep get of Dave Joyce is that he is a first class health and safety National Officer since he took office, and is therefore a credit to our Union. Compared to Billy and other National Officers I'm afraid to say Dave Joyce wins hands down. You and others may not agree but that is your and their perogative. Like your goodself I have never met him personally but I have on many an ocassion Emailed his Department seeking either clarification/advice or general queries on many a health and safety subject. I have to say the man has at least took the time out of his busy schedule to respond in kind. Whether you agree or not is neither here nor there, he has undoubtedly raised the profile of health and safety within the workplace and throughout the organisation/business to the top of the agenda as it should be, and for that he should thanked. You asked for fairness in a previous post of yours on this forum I think I have given you a fair response.

You have and I respect your opinion,and it is good to have a decent exchange of views with someone who doesn't have to resort to idiotic jokes every 5 minutes.

[brothermagrew]

Likewise it's all about dignity and respect for each others opinions and debating the issues in a calm and dignified manner without loosing the rag with one another or all and sundry.

Should of course have added:

Least we forget that the Communication Workers Union's National Health, Safety & Environment Officer Dave Joyce was re-elected unopposed for a further five year term of office after receiving huge level of backing from across the UK with well over 80 CWU Branch Nominations at the close.

The ever popular Joyce came to Office with a landslide election victory over his three opponents for what was then a vacant post. Prior to that he was Chair of the Union's National Executive Health, Safety And Environment Committee for 8 years dating from the time of the formation of the CWU out of the NCU/UCW merger.

Before joining the Union's National HQ, Dave a lifelong member of the CWU and its predecessors first became involved when he took up the role of Safety Representative in 1978 when the then Labour Government introduced the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations and so commenced a long career in health and safety. During his first term of Office as CWU National Health, Safety and Environment Officer Joyce negotiated a number of ground breaking agreements and successfully lifted the profile of health and safety within the Union, strengthening health and safety structures and maximising the active involvement of CWU Safety Representatives in decision making at all levels.

During the same period record numbers of CWU Safety Representatives have been trained and in the wider Trade Union movement Joyce has given the CWU a loud public voice on many occupational health, safety and workplace welfare issues, affecting the CWU membership, speaking on many platforms. He has also organised a number of successful high profile campaigns.

After his successful re-election Dave said "I'm delighted with the level of support I've received. This demonstrates that there's great enthusiasm within CWU Branches for the continued development of Health and Safety organisation and the need to address health, safety and environmental challenges." Applauding the role of union safety reps, Dave continued, " I will continue to promote the recognition of Safety Reps and their valuable contribution and to seek to expand the base of their involvement, rights and protection.”

On the theme of enthusiasm for health and safety work, Dave concluded, “I’m passionate about workers safety, health, wellbeing and the environment and it's importance to our Union. Every working day of the week, somebody is likely to die at work because of a breach of safety. Many more will suffer major injuries. The cost to workers and their families is too high to leave this subject without a powerful CWU voice, challenging the 'legalised ignorance' of some directors and managers when it comes to workers' safety and the fight for justice continues. CWU members work can often be a hazardous occupation and I aim to continue to pursue improved safe working practices and environments, reducing and preventing the injuries, ill health and disability which devastate the lives of ordinary working people - too much of which I see all around me".

IMHO - Perhaps thanks or thank you is to small a word for the debt of gratitude we owe Mr Joyce in his commitment to health and safety.

[andy2007]

I agree. And to be perfectly honest. I'd much prefer someone like Dave Joyce, who works so hard to improve H&S, but makes some gramatical errors. Than someone who can write perfectly eloquent letters, but doesn't make as much effort in the actual job.

Now obviously, he's not perfect. No-one is. But he's done a hell of a lot for us, in his time in office, and I'm very grateful.