A bad tick for bosses: Forestry worker Jim Newall got help from Unite after tick bite left him too ill to work

A bad tick for bosses

Forestry worker Jim Newall got help from Unite after tick bite left him too ill to work 

Jim Newall, a long serving Forestry Commission (FC) employee who was recently forced to retire on ill health grounds has thanked Unite for “its excellent legal and emotional support” on a successful personal injury claim against his employer. 

Jim, 61, loves the outdoors. He began work for the Scottish FC over four decades ago. He was a wildlife ranger before becoming a communities and recreation ranger.  “I really enjoyed the job. I worked with schoolchildren around preventing forest fires and on rural skills projects that were ideal for young people who were not academically inclined but really liked working on the land. 

“I worked with community groups composed of retired people who cleared paths, dug ditches, enjoyed working together and kept themselves fit as a result of the work they undertook amongst some beautiful countryside areas.”

Born and bred in the small village of Patna in East Ayrshire, he intended working until aged 66. But in 2014, whilst working in Galloway Forest he developed a red rash around where he was bitten on his leg by a tick. “The FC has leaflets telling us what to do and I followed the instructions. My doctor gave me some creams and they made no impact. 

“Initially my GP did not know what was wrong with me as most tick bites are harmless. I was off work for many weeks because I was just too tired to work. Blood tests confirmed I had Lyme Disease, which is caused in humans if the tick has already bitten an infected animal.”

Despite his illness, Jim returned to work on reduced hours. It made no difference as he was needing to sleep continuously. The FC sent Jim for specialist advice but that proved to be of limited help.  

Patna, built in 1802 to house local miners, has a trade union history. “My dad, James, was very active in the miners’ union. I joined the TGWU when I started work at the FC. A union is the only voice you have as a worker. I have never been a union rep but I am a passionate trade unionist.

“When I reluctantly realised that I was going have to finish working I contacted my union rep Neil Grieve. With 24 hours I was speaking to Thompsons solicitors. A personal injury claim was submitted. It was due to go to court but the FC made an offer and I was more than happy to settle. I received all the compensation I was awarded. I know from reading about how personal injury solicitors work that would not have been so if I had been forced to take up the case privately. Unite was also great in assisting me in negotiating early retirement. I can’t thank the union enough.”

Jim is also buoyed as he has heard that the FC is intent on strengthening its safeguards against its employees being bitten and is supplying Permethrin-treated clothing in areas where there is an increasing likelihood of ticks.  “Hopefully it will reduce the chances of other FC employees suffering my fate.” 

Leeds trees felled - they posed a risk to autistic child with pica

Leeds trees felled 

They posed a risk to autistic child with pica 

Big Issue North, 1-7 July 2019  

Leeds City Council may have become the first local authority to cut down trees after parents of autistic youngsters with Pica, an eating disorder, complained that they presented serious health risks to their children. 

The decision was made after lobbying by the Access Committee for Leeds (ACL) charity, which has previously assisted many parents of autistic children to obtain local authority disabled facility grants for housing adaptations. This has helped children to live at home, rather than in an institution. 

Pica involves eating items not thought of as food. People with development disabilities like autism are most affected by it. Children will drink muddy water and eat grass and falling leaves. 

Paula’s son Tom*, aged 11, has autism, severe learning disabilities and epilepsy, and was diagnosed with severe Pica at the age of two. They live in a heavily adapted home on a Leeds estate. 

“The problem starts when leaves fall in the garden as he will eat them and the grass, becoming so unwell he requires hospital treatment,” said Paula. “Stopping this means keeping Tom imprisoned as we can’t allow him in the specially enclosed garden unless we are constantly with him. And even if we are there he is so quick at running around he can eat the leaves and the grass unless we struggle with him and that upsets everyone.” 

The parent of another child with Pica said: “The last time I attempted to hang out washing with our son in the garden he ate mushrooms in a damp area under a large oak tree and we had to take him to A&E.” 

ACL volunteers successfully petitioned Leeds City Council that cutting down trees would be a safeguarding issue for Tom, and the council replaced the lawn with artificial grass and cut down sycamore, ash and elm trees that were overhanging Paula’s garden. 

“Similar actions should take now place elsewhere,” said ACL’s Tim McSharry, adding: “We believe this is the first case of its kind. We are extremely grateful to Leeds City Council and James Rogers, director of communities and environment, for understanding our concerns and for finding an effective resolution. 

“The needs highlighted by this case are not limited to Leeds and we believe there is an absolute priority for government to examine such cases and review how adequate resources can be made available to support families in a similar situation caring for a child with Pica.” 

But cutting down trees is controversial. One neighbour of Paula’s complained her house would be more vulnerable to antisocial behaviour as a result of losing the trees. Another felling over a week later in another Leeds ward also drew complaints from some residents. 

“I don’t like trees being cut down but our son can now use it without needing constant supervision,” said Paula. 

Asked about the basis for cutting down trees and how it intended to balance the concerns of Pica parents with those of local residents and environmental obligations, a Leeds City Council spokesman said it was first necessary to check if any trees were in a conservation area, adding: “Whilst the council will protect and preserve healthy trees where we can, we will always work with residents who may have specific concerns on a case by case basis in an effort to balance their needs with those of the local environment.” 

* Name has been changed 

How rural workers' revolts made trade union heroes - like Arch

How rural workers’ revolts made trade union heroes - like Arch

‘Kill all the Gentlemen’ Class struggle and change in the English countryside 

Martin Empson 

£14.99 

This February 12 marked the hundredth anniversary of the death of Joseph Arch. So it is great that he features prominently in this fascinating account of the historic class struggles waged over many centuries across the English countryside. 

The 1381 Peasants’ Revolt had numerous causes. It was triggered by the ruling class attempting to pay for an expensive war in France by collecting unpaid poll taxes. 

An increasingly impoverished peasantry rallied in their thousands to John Ball, Jack Straw and Wat Tyler’s call to arms. The uprising was unsuccessful. The subsequent royal suppression left thousands slaughtered. New laws were introduced to try and prevent similar future revolts. 

The ongoing desire by agricultural labourers for radical change could though not be stilled forever. Empson examines Jack Cade’s 1450 revolt, Kett’s Rebellion in 1549 and ongoing struggles against enclosures that deprived the poor of common land on which to fatten their  livestock.

The 1830 Captain Swing movement destroyed the threshing machines that were sweeping away agricultural workers jobs. Attempts at unionisation were crushed in 1834 when six landless labourers at Tolpuddle were caught trying to organise a union and transported.

By 1872 discontent at poverty wage levels was rife amongst agricultural labourers. In Joseph Arch there was a man whose oratory and organising skills could, at last, create an organisation that embodied the hopes of the unorganised, rural poor. It helped that Arch owned his own cottage and was almost guaranteed work as he was a very skilled hedgecutter. 

In 1872 Arch was approached by a group of men looking to form a farm workers' union. He agreed to help. On 7 February 1872, 2,000 labourers gathered to hear him in the village of Wellsbourne, Warwickshire. Similar events elsewhere drew massive crowds. On 29 May 1872, the National Agricultural Labourers’ Union was established. Arch was elected full-time President. 

By 1874 the union exceeded 86,000 members, over one-tenth of the farm work force. Wages everywhere were forced up before the farmers imposed a lockout of labourers and drove conditions back down. Some of the best union militants were forced to join the thousands who migrated overseas. 

The episode had though shown that trade unionism could be extended into the countryside. Arch later became the first agricultural labourer to be elected as a MP, serving as a Liberal between 1885 and 1900. 

To buy a copy:- https://bookmarksbookshop.co.uk/view/46096/%2527Kill+all+the+Gentlemen%2527+Class+struggle+and+change+in+the+English+countryside

Lunch time Save the NHS rally draws 25 people - the first such event planned to defend public services in Calderdale

Councillor and former NHS employee Stephanie Clarke spoke of how
privatisation had been disastrous for the NHS and needed reversing 

Former doctor and local councillor Colin Hutchinson gave a very interesting speech
packed with personal and political anecdotes 

John Dunn, former rebel Clay Cross Councillor and miner, gave a
typical passionate defence of socialist ideals and ambitions 

Nicola of the Hands Off
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary spoke of
how the treatment she had received at the hospital
had helped keep her alive and how she was determined to Keep the
NHS Public. 

Good turnout for unveiling of Edward McHugh headstone

75 people turned out on 29 June 2019 

Pat Hackett, Birkenhead Council leader and leader of the Labour Group spoke well 

MP Dan Carden was amongst the speakers 

Sheila Coleman, great woman 

Andrew Newby, author of a biography on Edward McHugh, had travelled specially from
Helsinki and outlined the great Irishman's many achievements 

Luke Agnew, with Mick Whitley, who chaired the event next to him, explains his delight in seeing the headstone
up in the Memorial Gardens where he works. 

The headstone came about after a talk by Mark Metcalf to a course of Unite stewards at Jack Jones House in
Liverpool. Luke Agnew was on the course and when he mentioned McHugh's unmarked grave it
was agreed to get a group together to raise funds for a suitable headstone. The result is as above, well done to Luke. 

Domestic violence kills - 118 women and one male were killed in 2018, info on all of them

11 Women killed in January 2018

3 January 2018: Elizabeta Lacatusu, 44, was killed by 19 knife injuries to her chest and neck inflicted by her former partner whom she had left the previous month.

5 January 2018: Terrie-Anne Jones, 52, was stabbed 26 times by her partner her injuries included an 8cm deep stab wound to her heart, 13 to her neck, three to her collarbone, and two to her chest, with defence wounds to both hands.

8 January 2018: Claire Tavener, 27, was stabbed 10 times in her neck and chest by her husband who had been violent and abusive to her during their relationship.

9 January 2018: Julie Clark, 59, was found dead at home, she had died of stab wounds. Her son has been charged with her murder.

10 Jan 2018: Geraldine Mellor, 32, was strangled to death by her boyfriend of 6 months,  

12 January 2018: Amelia Blake, 22, was killed whist travelling in Australia by her boyfriend Aged 33, who also killed himself.

13 January 2018: Cassie Hayes, 28, was killed by Andrew Burke, 30, the ex-partner of her girlfriend. He slit her throat.

24 January 2017: Claire Harris, 44, was killed by her ex- partner, whom she had allowed to stay in the flat she rented whilst he looked for a new home. She had suffered 86 injuries – half of them to her head and face.

26 January 2018: Cheryl Gabriel-Hooper, 51, was shot dead. Her husband was also injured and was arrested on suspicion of murder. Cheryl had recently separated from her husband

29 January 2018: Janet Scott was stabbed by her ex-boyfriend Simon Mellors, she survived the attack but he ran her over and killed her as she tried to flee. Mellors had killed a former partner, Pearl Black in 1999 and killed Janet whist on licence.

29 January 2018: Paula Harris, 44, was strangled to death by her partner Michael Foster, 39.

Who was Edward McHugh and why a headstone is being unveiled in his honour?

Here is the link to the Unite booklet on this remarkable man.

https://markwritecouk.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/edward-mchugh-booklet-1.pdf