Composite M (Covering Motion 76 & Amended Motion 77)
Industrial Injuries
“That this Congress notes that certain social security powers, including industrial injuries benefits, were devolved from the UK Government to the Scottish Government through the Scotland Act 2016; and that the delivery of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is expected to become the full responsibility of the Scottish Government by March 2026.
“Congress further notes the Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council (SEIAC) Bill was introduced by Mark Griffin MSP on 8 June 2023 and subsequently scrutinised by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
“Congress agrees that the current UK system of employment injuries assistance (EIA) is not fit for purpose and is inadequate, discriminatory, and unfair. Moreover, only 7% of claims for industrial injuries benefit are made by women and the system was designed for men’s work and systematically ignores the illness and disease women experience at work, and new modern and emerging workplaces injuries and disease.
“Congress notes the increasing number of former professional footballers who have been diagnosed with neurodegenerative conditions in the last ten years, because of repetitive head impacts.
‘‘Research conducted by Dr. William Stewart a professor and researcher of Glasgow University’s School of Psychology and Neuroscience showed that professional footballers suffer as a cohort an “approximately three and a half times higher rate of death due to neurodegenerative disease than expected”. This varies depending on where you played on the pitch, with defenders being up to five times more likely. Dr Stewart’s research published in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’ compared the causes of death of 7,676 former male former professional football players who were born between 1900 - 1976 against those of more than 23,000 matched individuals from the general population.
‘‘The clarity that the research offers is welcome. It demonstrates that increased risk is linked inextricably to the sufferers’ former footballing careers. The increased link of brain injuries comes directly from their previous employment and activities that were a routine part of their job. This is an industrial injury.
“Congress recognises the progress and work done by the STUC and affiliates to campaign for and build support for the SEIAC Bill and to build a fairer system in Scotland.
“Congress is therefore disappointed that following scrutiny, the general principles of the SEIAC Bill did not receive support by the Scottish Parliament Committee.
“Congress calls on the General Council to:
- Reaffirm commitment for the development of a Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council; and accelerate lobbying of the Scottish Government for this.
- Continue to campaign for long-COVID to be treated as an industrial injury.
- Support PFA Scotland, who are supporting MSP Micheal Marra’s demands of the Scottish Government to:
- Classify brain injury in football as an industrial injury. Give those ex-pros access to the benefits and care they need and have earned;
- Fund further research into the practical and preventative support that is needed within the game at all levels; and
- Establish a working group to consider the issues around brain injury and dementia, including in the grassroots and women’s game.
- Support MP Ian Blackford’s cross-party attempt in Westminster to ensure the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council recognise dementia in footballers as an industrial injury.
- Support the Musicians’ Union in campaigning for musicians to be included on the list of jobs eligible for Employment Injuries Assistance for occupational deafness and for the scheme to be extended to self-employed workers who suffer in the same way as employees.
- Advocate for illnesses and diseases, especially within the care system, which disproportionally affect women to be included in the Advisory Council charter.”
Mover: Professional Footballers Association Scotland
Seconder: STUC Annual Disabled Workers’ Conference
Amender: Musicians Union’
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