Unite and USW Seek Safe Workplaces at National Grid

Unite and USW continue to push for high health and safety standards at all National Grid worksites.

Dan Fowkes, the leader of the USW safety committee at National Grid, led a delegation of U.S. trade unionists to a major safety conference at National Grid in the UK.

This is part of a continuing effort by the Unite and USW to raise workplace safety standards at National Grid in the U.S. to the level they’re at in the UK.

National Grid is a UK headquartered company focused on the distribution of electricity and natural gas. USW and Unite both have hundreds of members employed by National Grid.

Through previous dialog, USW and Unite representatives recognized that workers safety standards are higher at National Grid in the UK than in the U.S. These union representatives continued to dialog with themselves and the company on how to raise safety standards in the U.S. to the UK level.

National Grid then agreed to open its annual company/union safety conference in the UK to U.S. union participation.

Fowkes said he learned about different safety policies and regulations in the UK, and that knowledge gained during the conference and UK site visits will be useful in representing USW members on safety matters.

Unite safety reps and National Grid employees Howard Beynon and Keith Stephens are playing a lead role in this ongoing effort.