Labour Research May 2012

Health & Safety Matters

Union is still waiting for action on dogs

The government has failed to keep its promise to announce changes to the law on dangerous dogs before Easter.

Following sustained pressure from the CWU communications union, the government had undertaken to set out by Easter how it would address the inadequacy of the current state of the law on dog control — yet did not do so.

General secretary Billy Hayes said: “This is extremely disappointing — and I’m afraid, very typical. Animal welfare minister Jim Pace has repeatedly said he will address this urgent issue, but then done absolutely nothing.”

The CWU is pressing for the law to be amended to deal with attacks on private land, where 70% of attacks on postal workers occur.