Thursday 30 April 2020

Blog: Denis Goldberg – a tireless campaigner for justice, and a friend

I was saddened to hear the news that our comrade and friend Denis Goldberg had passed away late on 29 April.

Denis dedicated his life to the struggle against apartheid and the building of a new, non racial South Africa. He was freedom fighter, an inspirational and visionary politician and a tireless campaigner for justice, rights and democracy.

Denis was arrested in 1963 alongside other members of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, and was sentenced to life imprisonment, as one of the Rivonia trialists, including Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada.

Whilst his black comrades were incarcerated on Robben Island, Denis spent 22 years isolated in a whites-only prison – Pretoria Central – until his release in 1985.

Denis Goldberg continued the fight against apartheid in exile, following his release. He lived in the UK until 2002, from where he worked to build international support for the ANC and a free South Africa.

It was during this time he got to know UNISON and our predecessor unions and the contribution we made to the anti-apartheid movement and the building of a new South Africa.

When Denis established Community H.E.A.R.T in 1995 to support development projects in southern Africa, he turned to UNISON for help.

I am proud of the role our union has played in supporting the development of South Africa, through Community H.E.A.R.T, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) and our own UNISON International Development Fund (UIDF).

Denis became an advisor to government ministers when he returned to South Africa. He always gave a warm welcome to trade unionists who visited him at his home in Hout Bay near Cape Town.

From here, well into his retirement he worked tirelessly to bring communities divided by apartheid together, and provide educational opportunities to young people in South Africa. In more recent years, whenever political leaders strayed away from the values of the liberation movement, Denis would speak truth to power.

I am immensely proud that Denis was an honorary life member of UNISON. He was a great friend of our union. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and comrades.

Hamba Kahle Denis – go well. You will always be an inspiration to UNISON.

The article Blog: Denis Goldberg – a tireless campaigner for justice, and a friend first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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UNISON welcomes visa extension announcement

UNISON has welcomed news that health and care workers from oversees, and their families, whose visas are due to expire before 1 October will have them automatically extended for free.

This will apply to staff in the NHS and independent sector and will include their family members.

The government has also confirmed that family members and dependants of healthcare workers who pass away as result of contracting the virus will be offered indefinite leave to remain.

The move followed representation from UNISON and pressure across the service.

“We’re pleased to see gaps in the visa extension scheme filled,” said the union’s head of health Sara Goton.

“We’ll continue to work with allies to push for changes to the Home Office approach to immigration rules for the future, but this extension will save additional worry for thousands of staff currently involved in the COVID-19 response.”

UNISON had also raised concerns over the desparate situation of the families of staff from overseas who have died of COVID-19.

“Not only were these families struggling with losing a loved one,” noted Ms Gorton, “but they faced the added problem that their immigration status was dependent upon their deceased relative.

“We are really pleased to see that these families have been granted immediate and indefinite leave to remain – nothing can bring back their loved ones, but at least these families will be spared potential deportation.”

National officer Narmada Thiranagama described the move as “a very welcome step forward, which recognises the vital role played by our overseas worker colleagues in both social care and the NHS.”

However, she added that the “Home Office needs to be proactive about getting the administration for these visa extensions done for these workers.

“Leaving it to employers – NHS trusts and social care employers – to notify the government of who needs this extension puts added pressure on the frontline.”

Ms Thiranagama said: “We have also been contacted by members who don’t work for the NHS or social care but are providing vital services and who are struggling to renew their visas because the Home Office services are being affected by the shutdown.

“We’d urge the Home Office to tackle this as their next urgent priority.”

 

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UNISON welcomes Supreme Court decision on ethical LGPS investment

UNISON has welcomed a Supreme Court decision overturning a ban on Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) investment decisions which differ from government foreign and defence policy.

Yesterday’s decision overturned regulations introduced in 2016 which banned the funds from disinvesting in companies or countries on ethical grounds, except where the government has imposed official sanctions.

These were aimed at campaigns calling on pension funds to disinvest from companies which profit from, for instance, arms sales or the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Reacting to the court’s decision, UNISON head of local government Jon Richards said the union “has always been clear that the LGPS is an independent pension scheme” adding that ministers have no right to interfere in its decisions.

“Pension funds should serve the best interests of their members and if those members want to ethically invest or disinvest then – as long as decisions don’t undermine the pension fund – they must  be allowed to do so,” he added.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and a member of its executive, Jackie Lewis who is also a UNISON member and a member of the LGPS pension scheme, asked for judicial review of the regulations which found that they were unlawful.

They were supported by the Quakers, the Campaign Against Arms Trade, and War on Want

However, the government won an appeal against that decision. The PSC and Ms Lewis then turned to the Supreme Court to overturn that appeal court decision, in a case that was heard last November. The court published its verdict yesterday.

“We congratulate Jackie on her victory,” added Mr Richards.

The LGPS in England and Wales has more than five million members and is made of 88 individual funds with assets estimated at £300bn. It has members in local government, education, police staff, the voluntary sector, environment agencies and private contractors.

External link: Palestine Solidarity Campaign

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Wednesday 29 April 2020

Care home death figures are shameful, says UNISON

Responding to new figures released today (Wednesday) that show a steep rise in coronavirus deaths due to the inclusion of those in care homes, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Care workers have been crying out for essential safety equipment, clear guidance and widespread virus testing for weeks. The risks have been plain to see and these new figures paint a stark picture of how the pandemic has been sweeping through residential homes across the UK.

“The most vulnerable people in society and the staff who look after them needed proper protection from the start.

“This is a source of national shame and another sharp reminder why society needs to look at how it treats the entire care system.”

​Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Sixth form staff in England consulting on pay

UNISON members working in English sixth form colleges are being asked their opinion on a new pay offer for this year (2019-20) and next, in an online consultation that closes on 15 May.

College employers have made a final offer for the two years, following extensive negotiations by UNISON, which will see pay rise by a minimum of 5.34% by January next year.

This will consist of three staged increases in pay and allowances:

  • a 1.5% rise backdated to the start of the college year on 1 September 2019;
  • a 1.25% increase on those new rates backdated to 1 April this year, with higher rises for the lower paid;
  • a further 2.5% increase from 1 January  2021.

April will see rises of 7.79% for staff on point 14 of the sector’s pay spine and 8.53% for those on the lowest pay (salary spine point 15).

UNISON negotiators are recommending that members accept the offer, which they say is “a significant increase” on the previous offer from the Sixth Form Colleges Association and gives some security for next year in uncertain times.

There is also the option to reopen negotiations if there are changes in circumstances, including if pay negotiations for teachers covering 2020/21 see an offer of more than 2.5%.

Given the effects of the current lockdown, the consultation will take place online using a link that has been emailed members.

The article Sixth form staff in England consulting on pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Tuesday 28 April 2020

Remembering our key workers

People across the country, and across UNISON, held a silent tribute today to health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the current pandemic. They included general secretary Dave Prentis (pictured above), leading the union from home in the current lock-down.

Every year, UNISON members trade unionists around the world mark International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, committing themselves to “remember the dead and fight for the living”.

But, said Mr Prentis, “this year the day has a special meaning, as coronavirus takes its toll on key workers providing vital public services and looking after our loved ones and friends gave the day a special significance.

“That is why UNISON led the way in calling for a minute’s silence to remember those who have died during the crisis.

“We thank our branches across the UK – and we were pleased to see more than the usual trade union activists joining in the commemoration.

“Our union even called on the prime minister to support the silence, and from football clubs to food stores, railway stations to hospitals and other emergency services, the nation paid its respects.

“It was incredibly moving to see the entire nation fall silent and pay its respects to all the health, care, council and transport workers who’ve tragically lost their lives to the virus,” he added.

“The sight of government offices, workplaces and homes across the UK pausing for a moment of quiet reflection brought home the overwhelming sense of gratitude we all feel.”

“While most of us were safe at home, these workers were putting themselves in harm’s way, saving lives and looking after patients and the elderly in our hospitals and care homes.”

UNISON members expressed similar feelings across the UK – here is just a very small sample:

The article Remembering our key workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Country falls silent to remember all workers who’ve died during pandemic

Commenting on today’s silence to remember and give thanks to all the workers who’ve died during the pandemic, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“It was incredibly moving to see the entire nation fall silent and pay its respects to all the health, care, council and transport workers who’ve tragically lost their lives to the virus.

“The sight of government offices, workplaces and homes across the UK pausing for a moment of quiet reflection brought home the overwhelming sense of gratitude we all feel.

“While most of us were safe at home, these workers were putting themselves in harm’s way, saving lives and looking after patients and the elderly in our hospitals and care homes.

“It’s sadly inevitable that more key workers will fall victim to the virus. The government must now do everything within its power to ensure plentiful and frequent supplies of protective equipment to all workplaces that need it. This must be backed by a comprehensive, accessible and prompt testing system for all key workers and their families.

“Today’s tribute showed how much we appreciate the UK’s key workers. And we must continue to value them when this is all over. We must never forget how the entire country relied upon them all throughout the pandemic.”

Notes to editors:
– Just over a week ago, UNISON, along with the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Nursing, launched a campaign calling for a minute’s silence to remember all the health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus. The 11am silence was held on International Workers’ Memorial Day, which every year commemorates workers who have died around the globe.
– The campaign hashtags for the minute’s silence are #neverforgotten and #iwmd20.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Country falls silent to remember all workers who’ve died during pandemic first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Monday 27 April 2020

Extension of NHS death in service benefits to all healthcare workers is the least we can do

Commenting on the government announcement today (Monday) that NHS death-in-service benefits are to be extended to all health and care staff who die from contracting Covid-19, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“It’s only right the families of all those who worked for the NHS or in social care, and who’ve sadly lost their lives to the virus, are properly provided for.

“Until now, the relatives of any low-paid health worker who died and had opted out of the NHS pension scheme would’ve received nothing. Nor would the families of care workers on precarious contracts. Thankfully now that wrong has been put right.

“Until their untimely deaths, all were looking after patients, saving lives, caring for the elderly and the vulnerable in our hospitals and care homes. Putting themselves in harm’s way, while most of us were safe at home.

“All the money in the world can’t replace a loved one. Nor can it lessen the deep grief relatives are experiencing.

“But providing financial security for the families of all those who’ve paid the ultimate price for their professionalism and dedication is the very least we can do.

“At 11am tomorrow, the nation will take a moment to pay a silent tribute to all workers who’ve lost their lives during the pandemic. Now at least their families won’t be worrying about how to pay for funerals and will have some financial peace of mind.”

Notes to editors:
– On Tuesday 28 April, the nation is to observe a minute’s silence to remember all health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus. The tribute is being held on International Workers’ Memorial Day which every year commemorates workers who have died around the globe.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk

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Blog: A moment of silence is the very least that we can do

Tomorrow, the nation will fall silent at 11am to honour and remember all of the health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus.

It’s an opportunity for us all to take a moment to pay our respects and give thanks to for the lives of those who saved lives, kept key services running and the rest of the country safe. It’s also a further opportunity to show our love to their families, and to remind everyone of the real danger that key workers are placing themselves in to keep our country going and our communities safe.

Our union has been leading the calls for this commemoration which takes place on International Workers Memorial Day. Every year, this is an important date for our union – but never more so than this year. The risk of death should never be something which any of us have to consider as part of our working lives, but for too many workers that is the ongoing reality of the fight against COVID-19.So while we pay our respects to those who have lost their lives, we continue to fight for better protection at work for everyone who needs it – whether those at risk during the current crisis, or any worker whose life is put at risk by their working conditions.

This virus has had a profound impact on all of our lives, but there are clearly those who are particularly affected. This virus has had a disproportionate impact on older people, Black communities and those with prior health conditions. It has also had a huge impact on those whose vital work means they cannot stay at home, including so many UNISON members – taking care of our loved ones, educating our children, keeping our streets safe or making sure that vital food and supplies are delivered – who are putting themselves at risk to protect us all.

Every minute this pandemic continues, people are making extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe and run our vital services.

That’s why we’ve issued this call for the whole country to take part and remember the sacrifices key workers have made. So wherever you are – at home or at work – please join us in a moment of silence at 11am tomorrow. To say thank you. To remember. To show our solidarity. To remember the dead, but also on International Workers Memorial Day, to fight for the living.

After all that key workers have already given to us all throughout this crisis, it is the very least that we can do.

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Public asked to observe minute’s silence tomorrow to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus

Everyone around the UK is urged to take a moment tomorrow (Tuesday) to remember with a minute’s silence the health, care and other key workers who have died as a result of coronavirus.

The 11am silence – held on International Workers’ Memorial Day – will allow people to unite in paying respect for the lives of those whose work involved caring, saving lives and providing important services.

Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford will all be observing the minute’s silence. It’s hoped that all employers, politicians, those on lockdown and people at work will do so too.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “For every minute this pandemic continues, people are making extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe and run our vital services.

“The least we can all do is spare a moment to pay our respects and show our gratitude to all the key workers who have lost their lives.”

The silence is also an opportunity to think about all those workers who are continuing to keep the country safe and functioning, says UNISON.

Notes to editors:
– The minute’s silence will be held at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday 28 April).
–  The campaign hashtag for the minute’s silence is #neverforgotten.
– International Workers’ Memorial Day every year commemorates workers who have died around the globe.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Public asked to observe minute’s silence tomorrow to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Baking for bin men: life as a refuse collector in COVID-19

UNISON rep Christian Groves (pictured) is an HGV driver for Harlow’s refuse collection team, run by Veolia. Throughout COVID-19, he’s felt more supported by the public than his employer.

“Local residents have been so lovely. They’ve been coming out with drinks for us, food and little bags with rubber gloves and hand sanitiser. To be honest, the public have been giving us better equipment than our employer.”

“Some people have baked us cakes and kids have drawn us little posters with ‘thank you’ on. It makes you feel really appreciated.”

As a refuse collector, social distancing is a challenge. Christian’s job usually involves spending whole days, shoulder-to-shoulder in a lorry cab with three or four colleagues, visiting thousands of homes a day. He’s worried about catching the virus through his work.

UNISON has agreed guidance with national local government employers, which states clearly that social distancing rules must be adhered to in council vehicles. It is up to employers to find solutions to avoid having more than two people in a cab. Some employers are using mini-vans to take workers to their collection rounds, to avoid crowded cabs. This might mean redeploying drivers from other services, but it has to happen.

“It’s scary for me. I’ve got four young kids and a wife. I don’t want to take anything home to them. My youngest is only a year old. Every day I think: ‘How do I know I haven’t got anything?’ Or the two sat next to me, how do I know?

“A lot of us have young kids, but you go into our team room at work and there’s 30 to 40 blokes, all in the size of a small class room.  I have spoken to the local management about minimizing the amount of refuse workers that come to the office every morning”.

Unison members at the depot do not feel they have had enough communication from the employer about the virus or how to stay safe. It doesn’t feel like the safety of workers is fully considered.

The need for a proper risk assessment to identify the correct PPE is crucial in this environment.

Christian has bought his own face mask on eBay, and is taking other precautionary measures to stay safe, like going to management and getting agreement that he collects his colleagues in the dust cart.

“Every day now I pick up my loaders from their houses in the dust cart before we start work, so they’re not travelling to the office or in the team room. The tip’s an hour and a half journey there and back, and I don’t let them come with me in that trip.

“If there’s any way I can cut down the time we spend together in that lorry then I will. That was my suggestion to the management, and I’m doing all I can do.”

“It feels like nothing’s changed for us workwise. It’s so different out there, it’s so weird at the moment, but I’m doing all I can do.

“We’ve all just got to carry on and do our best to stay safe really, but it’s a shame that the workers are coming up with the solutions.”

The article Baking for bin men: life as a refuse collector in COVID-19 first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Friday 24 April 2020

Government asked to back minute’s silence to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus

The government is being asked by UNISON to give formal backing to a minute’s silence next Tuesday (28 April) to remember all health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus.

The union along with the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives – who between them represent more than a million NHS and public service workers including porters, refuse collectors and care staff – launched a campaign this week for the nation to take a moment to honour frontline staff who have died during the Covid-19 crisis.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has now written to Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab urging the government to back the tribute, which takes place at 11am on International Workers’ Memorial Day.

In his letter, Mr Prentis highlights how the deaths of ‘selfless’ health and social care workers on the frontline are a national ‘tragedy’.

He says: “Health and social care workers on the frontline across the country are losing their lives to coronavirus. This is a tragedy for their families, friends, colleagues and for the nation.

“We would like the government to endorse this tribute formally and publicly. This is in order that our entire country can take a moment to honour the selfless workers who have been taken from us too soon in protecting our citizens and caring for others.”

Organisations including the TUC, USDAW and the NASUWT are already on board with the campaign, and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said the one-minute silence is ‘a very good idea.’

UNISON – which represents more than a million NHS and public service workers, including porters, refuse collectors and care staff – is also asking employers, people at work and those on lockdown at home to pay their respects by joining the silence.

This will allow everyone to give thanks for the lives of those whose work involved caring, saving lives, keeping key services running and the rest of the country safe, says UNISON. The tribute is also a show of support for the families of those who have died.

Notes to editors:
– The minute’s silence will be held at 11am on Tuesday 28 April.
– The campaign hashtag for the minute’s silence is #neverforgotten.
– Click here to access the letter sent to Dominic Raab.
– International Workers’ Memorial Day every year commemorates workers who have died around the globe.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Thursday 23 April 2020

Care sector should look to the NHS for inspiration

Commenting on the findings from the IPPR report ‘Care Fit for Carers’ published today (Thursday), UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The care sector needs to follow the lead set by the NHS and commit to supporting the health and wellbeing of staff.

“It’s right and proper that care staff be better paid for their service and sacrifice. But addressing pay should be the beginning of a root and branch reform of a broken system.

“Attention needs to focus on how staff are trained and employed. Care workers should have the rights and protections NHS staff take for granted, including sick pay, paid annual leave, pensions and job security.

“The pandemic has provided a glimpse of the work some of the poorest paid people in the country do to support the most vulnerable. We musn’t waste this opportunity to right an historic wrong and fix a system that isn’t working.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Wednesday 22 April 2020

Blog: your right to be safe from harm at work

As UNISON has been working hard for our members during the coronavirus crisis, I know that the issue of getting the right personal protective equipment (PPE) is the still the top priority for everyone fighting this pandemic.

Rest assured that this is also an issue on which your union is challenging the government. At every opportunity we are raising PPE with the health and safety executive, public health authorities, senior civil servants and employers across the UK on a daily basis.

Public health authorities have produced guidance on what PPE should be available in different settings and you can check this on our website.

If you are unsure then please raise this with your branch or with regions but I have a clear message for you and your members, now.

UNISON believes that workers should never be in a situation where they might endanger themselves and others in the course of doing their jobs.

Putting you in that situation is a breach of health and safety law and may spread coronavirus to people in high-risk groups.

As a last resort, when faced with a dangerous working environment which you cannot reasonably be expected to avert, every employee “has the right not to suffer detriment if they leave, or refuse to attend their place of work (or any part) in circumstances where they reasonably believe that they are being exposed to serious and imminent danger”.

In plain English, let me be clear – although this is a measure of last resort, UNISON will provide advice and support to members who choose to exercise these rights.

These are extraordinary times and your union is with you every step of the way.

I want to finish by saying a huge thank you again for the incredible work you are all doing. The jobs you do across across our public services are vital for the health, wellbeing and safety of everyone in this country.

We are already acting to make sure this is not forgotten when the country is through this crisis and that your work is properly rewarded – and that all public service workers are treated with dignity and respect

You are there for everyone in the UK during this very worrying time and UNISON is always here for you.

Dave Prentis

UNISON general secretary

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Baking for bin men: life as a refuse collector in COVID-19

UNISON member Christian Groves (pictured) is an HGV driver for Haringey’s refuse collection team. Throughout COVID-19, he’s felt more supported by the public than his employer.

“Local residents have been so lovely. They’ve been coming out with drinks for us, food and little bags with rubber gloves and hand sanitiser. To be honest, the public have been giving us better equipment than our employer.”

“Some people have baked us cakes and kids have drawn us little posters with ‘thank you’ on. It makes you feel really appreciated.”

As a refuse collector, social distancing is impossible. Christian’s job requires spending whole days, shoulder-to-shoulder in a lorry cab with three or four colleagues, visiting thousands of homes a day. He’s worried about catching the virus through his work.

“It’s scary for me. I’ve got four young kids and a wife. I don’t want to take anything home to them. My youngest is only a year old. Every day I think: ‘How do I know I haven’t got anything?’ Or the two sat next to me, how do I know?

“A lot of us have young kids, but you go into our team room at work and there’s 30 to 40 blokes, all in the size of a small class room.

“We’ve had no communication from our firm about the virus or how to stay safe really. It doesn’t seem they care much about us. They were talking about the lorries being deep cleaned once a week, but that hasn’t happened, and face masks only turned up a week ago. They’ll give them to us if we ask for them, but they’re not medical masks, they’re painter-decorator masks. I’ve been buying my own off eBay.”

That’s not the only in which Christian has taken matters into his own hands to try and take precautions at work.

“Every day now I pick up my loaders from their houses in the dust cart before we start work, so they’re not travelling to the office or in the team room. The tip’s an hour and a half journey there and back, and I don’t let them come with me in that trip.

“If there’s any way I can cut down the time we spend together in that lorry then I will. That was my suggestion to the management, and I’m doing all I can do.”

But Christian still “feels like nothing’s changed for us workwise: the management haven’t put any precautions in place. It’s so different out there, it’s so weird at the moment, but I’m doing all I can do.

“We’ve all just got to carry on and do our best to stay safe really, but it’s a shame that the workers are coming up with the solutions.”

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Government should mobilise volunteers to take testing to staff, says UNISON  

Enlisting the help of some of the million plus people who’ve volunteered their services to the NHS during the pandemic could be key to increasing testing of health and care workers, says UNISON today (Wednesday).  

Health secretary Matt Hancock has admitted that drive-in centres are not ideal for everyone, particularly those without a car, or who live in rural areas.

The union says the strategy needs to focus instead on taking tests to NHS and care workers, rather than expecting hard-pressed staff to travel long distances. 

Volunteers could assist by driving mobile vans and explaining procedures to people while trained medical staff carry out the actual testing, says UNISON.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Almost three weeks ago the government set a goal of 100,000 daily tests. That target was meant to have been reached by the end of April, but that’s just days away.   

“Clearly ministers’ strategy isn’t working, despite checks being vital in winning the fight against Covid. We need to get tests to staff, not expect them to attend test centres.

“There has to be a better way of taking testing to staff on the frontline. It’s not sensible to expect poorly individuals to travel miles from home to be swabbed. That could mean several hours’ drive for some living in remote areas, which is totally unrealistic.

“People also need to be tested within days of the onset of symptoms. It’s no surprise take up has been so low. The government must make it easier for staff if there’s to be any possibility of meeting its 100,000 a day goal. 

“We want to work with the government to identify how to use the help of the army of volunteers who’ve signed up to assist the NHS.

“Many have yet to be given anything to do. They could be mobilised to take kits to NHS and care workers.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 423446 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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What do carers think of #ClapForCarers?

UNISON steward Hassan Ortega works for a charity providing a homelessness prevention service in Salford. He said:

“I feel mixed about #ClapForCarers. It’s great that it’s raised the profile of workers in the community sector who are providing services that are keeping people safe, healthy and protected.”

However, Hassan notes that what carers really need is not to be left unprotected and vulnerable themselves – and not to be outsourced. “In some respects, it could be seen as a diversionary activity to keep the public busy. But I value that it’s raised the profile of a group of workers who were pretty much side-lined until recently.”

And he continues: “Care workers are committed to enhancing the quality of life for those they work with, while themselves often enduring poor terms and conditions and poverty pay. For too long they have been undervalued, unsupported and poorly remunerated. And they undertake this work in a myriad of settings – in day centres, residential care facilities and individual’s homes.

“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, our dedicated care workers have continued to work in the most physically and emotionally challenging conditions in their workplaces.”

Hassan’s frontline work has been hugely affected by the pandemic. He explains: “We’re a community hub that sees a footfall of over 100 people daily, and those people are marginalised, vulnerable and often in crisis.

“We’re situated right in the heart of Salford city, which has a high degree of social housing and pockets of poverty surrounding us. We usually provide free lunch, food and support to people who are in crisis, and also socially isolated.

“But in order to protect our service users and ourselves, we’ve had to close our doors to a large cohort of service users.”

“We’re currently unable to offer the high level of service we previously did. However, we’re maintaining a skeleton staff to work with those people who are most marginalised.”

At present, it’s voluntary and community services like Hassan’s that provide a lifeline to a wide-ranging group of people who still need to access statutory services. He gave a recent example.

“One of the things that the crisis has highlighted is that a lot of statutory and voluntary provision has gone digital – and that’s great for those people who are digitally included and don’t have literacy or numeracy issues.

“But recently, we had somebody who went to the council housing department for a homeless presentation. The department was closed, with a notice on the door saying that they are doing homeless presentations over the telephone. But that person couldn’t read, so they didn’t know what the sign said. They then walked two miles to our hub and presented to us. I got on the phone to the council, and later on in the day, the council put them in emergency housing provision.

“Yesterday we had a guy who was masked up, fully protected, but he disclosed suicidal ideas. He was medicated for mental health issues, and he was finding the strain and stress of being socially isolated really devastating.

“Obviously, our default position is to present at A+E to the crisis team. That’s a few miles away and he had to make the choice to risk going on public transport to access the hospital. Eventually he made call to his GP, who could help.”

Responding to the government’s recent categorisation of social carers as “unskilled workers”, Hassan comments:

“Labelling care workers as ‘unskilled’ denigrates the absolutely fantastic contribution that care workers provide for society. They are nothing but supremely skilled. These are people that have to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are safeguarded and cared for professionally. 

“It’s appalling and it just shows you how out of touch the government is to quantify them as being unskilled. Ultimately, by doing that, it does nothing to address the already massive staff shortage in care work.

“Prior to COVID-19, we had staff shortages of around 122,000 and I was appalled that they didn’t allow visa extensions for care workers, because they’re sorely needed.”

UNISON member Sarah McKinnon works for a charity in the South West providing support to adults with learning difficulties. She said:

“I was getting alittle aggrieved when #ClapForCarers was only talking about the NHS. Don’t get me wrong – the NHS needs all the help it can get, but I felt the social care and key worker sector had been left out of the equation. Now they’ve included social care and key workers, our work is being recognised”.

“The reality is, the social care sector has picked up some of the services that the NHS and local authorities used to provide. That includes things like mental health outreach, housing associations, drug and alcohol services and homelessness support.

“It’s rubbish to say that care work is unskilled. It takes a great deal of interpersonal skills to support someone needing support to live the life they want to lead. Care workers may not have qualifications, but that is not the same as being ‘unskilled’. We’ve got some highly skilled staff and highly dependent service users.”

Sarah’s organisation provides supported accommodation to adults with learning difficulties. Under lockdown conditions, social distancing is difficult, and staff are having to use common sense when supporting people to take their exercise.

“Staff morale is pretty good right now, but PPE (personal protective equipment) has been a nightmare to get hold of – and still is. It’s been horrendous. At the moment, we’ve got gloves and aprons, but any of the more higher-grade stuff – masks and goggles – are like gold dust. At the moment staff morale is good, they’re doing very well.

“I hope when all of this is over, the government realise what a massively skilled workforce is out there delivering care and support in many different environments and recognises it financially in the contracts local authorities offer care providers.”

UNISON member David Robinson is a residential support worker for a children’s home in Blackpool. When asked about #ClapForCarers, he said that rethought it was great at first.

But I find a bit cringeworthy now, as it is more about those clapping than those who are carers. If it focuses the attention in the future on resources to be put where they’re needed, then great. Otherwise, it is nothing but a distraction”.

Many carers are risking their lives going to work without proper PPE. Right now, David is pushing for better access to such equipment at his work. So far, he’s received no training or instruction from management, and is feeling left in the dark.

“Whether it’s a supply problem or what, I don’t know. I don’t think it is. They’re trying to put it down to guidance, but I can’t find any guidance specifically on children’s homes.

“I know they’re trying to keep things as normal as possible, but we’ve all got families to go home to. There’s 10-12 people working in the home that I’m at, and if you think about how many people they each individually come into contact with, and the whole trail, it’s concerning.

“Do the children in the home want to be wearing it? We don’t know.”

But across the country, many carers don’t have a choice in whether they go to work or not: already in financially precarious and low-paid jobs, they can’t afford not to work.

David continues. “I’m not frightened to go to work, but one of the staff members has elderly parents and she’s been worried about it. I know it’s a concern for her. She can’t really not work either, because her husband’s self-employed. She has to work because she can’t afford to take a drop in wages.”

“It’s bad enough on a lockdown and, if we’re working in services, we need to be looked after. We’re not asking for any preferential treatment. We just want to be treated like our health matters – obviously management’s does, because they’re all working from home.”

UNISON national officer Andrew Dobbie said: “UNISON is working as hard as it can to support our care worker members, and in particular to get the vital protective equipment they need.

“And when the clapping dies down, UNISON will still be fighting for care workers to be properly treated: paid living wages, with proper job security and career structures, reflecting the vital nature of their contribution to national life. They should be recognised all year round and every year.”

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Tuesday 21 April 2020

Remember COVID-19 dead this International Workers’ Memorial Day

Tuesday 28 April is International Workers’ Memorial Day, when we remember all those who have died because of their work – and renew our pledge to fight for the living.

In the year of coronavirus, this day of commemoration has never been more important. And that is why UNISON is asking the country to observe a minute’s silence, to remember all the health, care and other key workers who have already lost their lives to COVID-19.

The campaign for a minute’s silence at 11am next Tuesday was launched earlier this week by UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives, which collectively represent more than a million NHS and public service workers, including porters, refuse collectors and care staff.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said it would be “the ultimate tribute to remember workers who’ve lost their lives and put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe and vital services running.

“Every year, the sacrifice of workers around the world is recognised, but this year has a special significance because of the pandemic.

“Thousands of key staff are on the frontline while the rest of us are in lockdown. That’s why we’ve issued this call for the whole country to take part and remember the sacrifices they’ve made. The best tribute we can all pay them is to stay inside to protect the NHS.”

Thousands of workers across the UK are caring for those suffering from COVID-19 or delivering vital public services that are vital for us all – potentially putting their own safety and even their own lives at risk.

In many cases, these workers know that, by simply doing their jobs, they are putting themselves at risk.

The sacrifice of those working in the health and social care sectors has already been acknowledged, but there are also others – those working in childcare, police services and refuse collection, in hostels and rescue centres, in gas, water and electricity, and in transport services among them – whose work and dedication often goes unacknowledged.

Tragically, some of these workers have already died. In some cases, more could have been done to protect them, whether by better enforcement of social distancing, looking after workers with underlying health conditions or provision of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe.

While improvements have been seen in some areas, more needs to be done – specifically in relation to assessing the risks our members are facing and ensuring that all staff who require it are getting the protective equipment needed to do the job safely.

UNISON has never been afraid to demand the highest standards for workers; we have not been afraid to speak out and hold the government to account on providing the right PPE when staff need it, and to hold employers to account who are not doing enough to keep their workers safe.

All of this adds to the importance of observing a minutes’ silence at 11am next Tuesday.

But other things that you can do include:

  • tweeting us, @unisontheunion, your pictures of public service workers, whether of yourself, your colleagues or even those you may not personally know, continuing to do the jobs that are keeping us all safe – although don’t go out especially to get these;
  • if you are having a problem getting the PPE you need to keep you safe, let us know here;
  • email any other COVID-19 safety related issues to healthandsafety@unison.co.uk.

The article Remember COVID-19 dead this International Workers’ Memorial Day first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Coronavirus: online learning update

Health and safety resources

Coronavirus is, above all, a health and safety issue. From making the argument for PPE for key workers, to ensuring that members can work safely from home, the role of the health and safety rep has never been more important.

Working through our learning and organising team. UNISON has compiled some of the best online resources for our health and safety reps.

Some are particularly relevant to these times; some are more generally useful.

Virtual learning for health and safety reps during the coronavirus outbreak

Focus on care workers

This is a very hard time for many of our members, especially for those working in care homes or providing home care to the vulnerable.

On top of their own problems with PPE, they are often in the distressing position of witnessing the deaths of residents for whom they may have cared for years, and then expected to notify distraught relatives.

That’s always been part of the job – and it’s one that our members have always been used to carrying out with sensitivity and care – but the frequency and suddenness of COVID-19 deaths is something new, and challenging.

UNISON learning and organising has gathered together some links to signpost members to organisations who can help support them through bereavement and trauma.

Bereavement and trauma: useful resources for members in social care

Online learning for all

UNISON continues to add free online resources to our dedicated learning  website.

From refreshers on subjects as diverse as English, maths, and the menopause through the Wranx app, to Unionlearn’s new Learning At Home collection, you can find them all at learning.unison.org.uk.

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More than a thousand care home deaths highlights ‘shambolic’ government response to Covid crisis, says UNISON

Responding to data published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics that show more than a thousand deaths in care homes and in the community were registered up to 10 April, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“This doubling in deaths is shocking evidence of the government’s shambolic handling of the Covid crisis.

“Staff working in care homes and those looking after people in the community have been massively let down. The ongoing lack of protective kit has left many terrified they’ll spread this deadly virus or become infected themselves.

“There’s still widespread confusion among workers and their employers over what equipment they should have. Some staff are being told off for wearing masks, while others can’t even get hold of hand sanitiser, according to reports still coming into UNISON’s PPE alert hotline.

“The government has got to get its act together if we are to prevent more lives being needlessly lost.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

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Monday 20 April 2020

Record numbers join UNISON

Public service champions working to deal with the coronavirus crisis are joining the union in record numbers as they seek support and security.

The latest figures show that the union has grown by almost 16,000 members since the beginning of the year. That came after some 62,000 new members joined UNISON in the last three months – with record numbers signing up in the last few weeks.

That is “a sign of how worried people are,” said general secretary Dave Prentis. “People are joining the union for advice and security at this worrying time. And they are turning to UNISON because our workplace reps and activists are second to none.

“I know we can step up to this huge challenge and be there when our members need us most.

“Public-service workers are going above and beyond to protect our loved ones and keep our communities safely functioning.

“Supporting them and campaigning for their protection is the priority of our union at this trying time; the priority for all our structures, our regions, our branches, our staff and our activists.

“I am so proud that our union is working so hard for our members and for public service workers in general.”

In all, UNISON has 15,755 more members than we had at the start of the year, with most of that growth coming in March and early April.

And nearly a third of that growth – almost 5,000 new members – was the result of people working in schools joining the union.

Coronavirus: your rights at work

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Call for minute’s silence to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus

The country is to be asked to observe a minute’s silence next Tuesday (28 April) to remember all the health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus, in a campaign launched today (Monday) by three health unions.

UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives – who between them represent more than a million NHS and public service workers, including porters, refuse collectors and care staff – are urging politicians, employers, people at work and those on lockdown at home to join the tribute at 11am.

The minute’s silence – held on International Workers’ Memorial Day – will allow everyone to pay their respects and give thanks for the lives of those whose work involved caring, saving lives, keeping key services running and the rest of the country safe, say the unions. The tribute is also a show of support for the families of those who have died.

The three unions are hoping the government and other organisations will get on board and join the campaign for there to be a minute’s silence on the day, which every year commemorates workers who have died around the globe.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This is the ultimate tribute to remember workers who’ve lost their lives and put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe and vital services running. Every year the sacrifice of workers around the world is recognised, but this year has a special significance because of the pandemic.

“Thousands of key staff are on the frontline while the rest of us are in lockdown. That’s why we’ve issued this call for the whole country to take part and remember the sacrifices they’ve made. The best tribute we can all pay them is to stay inside to protect the NHS.

“The minute’s silence is a thank you to all the workers including nurses, midwives, cleaners and care staff who’ve died from this devastating virus.”

Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive Donna Kinnair said: “We’ve become used to hearing a great roar on a Thursday night for key workers, but this respectful silence will be a poignant reminder of the risks they run to keep us safe.

“I hope the public gets behind this with the same affection they show when applauding our people.

“The silence is a simple show of respect for those who have paid the very highest price, but their loved ones must know the levels of gratitude we feel as a nation and take some comfort from that.”

Royal College of Midwives chief executive and general secretary Gill Walton said: “We had expected 2020 to be a celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife but, although we actively applaud their service, this is not what we had imagined.

“Instead, across the country, midwives and maternity support workers are seeing the impact of coronavirus not only on the women in their care, but on their colleagues as well.

“We are proud to join UNISON and the RCN in this campaign and to recognise and remember those who we have lost.”

Notes to editors:
– The minute’s silence will be held at 11am on Tuesday 28 April.
– The campaign hashtag for the minute’s silence is #neverforgotten.

Media contacts:
– UNISON: Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
– Royal College of Nursing: Dan Sutherland T: 020 7647 3633 E: daniel.sutherland@rcn.org.uk
– Royal College of Midwives: Stuart Bonar M: 020 7312 3456 E: stuart.bonar@rcm.org.uk

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Saturday 18 April 2020

NHS organisations must be honest with staff over PPE stocks, says UNISON

Commenting on the emergency measures published today (Friday) by Public Health England, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “These are absolute worst case scenario measures, which staff hope their organisations won’t have to implement.

“No part of the NHS should use this move as an excuse to ration supplies of gowns when they still have stocks. That would cause a damaging breakdown of trust at a time when staff are working under intense pressure.

“Managers must be truly honest with health workers and their union reps over the weekend. If gowns run out, staff in high risk areas may well decide that it’s no longer safe for them to work.”

Note to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

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Friday 17 April 2020

UNISON calls for government to prioritise staff safety before re-opening schools

Schools across the country are mostly closed, with pupils staying at home with families and carers. However, some schools remain partially open for children who have a social worker and are under safeguarding precautions, as well as children of key workers.

UNISON has, with other unions, issued a joint statement to the government warning against fully re-opening schools until staff safety is scientifically assured.

UNISON members have been essential in keeping schools open during the COVID-19 crisis, and are already concerned that, even with the small number of pupils currently in schools, it is impossible to maintain social distancing at all times.

UNISON National Secretary Jon Richards said: “We all know that schools will re-open at some stage, but that needs to be managed sensibly and not put people’s lives at risk.

“The government needs to be open with their plans and engage with UNISON and other unions early on to ensure that this isn’t mishandled.”

The statement co-signed by UNISON, Unite and GMB reads: “We call on the government to provide immediate reassurance to staff that any strategy for re-opening schools is discussed with relevant unions and other bodies at an early stage.

“Any proposals must be shared well in advance of any implementation, and re-opening schools should only happen once there is clear published scientific evidence that can command the confidence of the schools’ workforce that it is safe to do so.

“Suggestions in the media that the government in England is considering reopening schools has caused huge anxiety amongst school staff and parents”

The statement also includes demands for sufficient PPE, cleaning supplies and regular testing.

Read the full statement here.

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Book review: the birth of the NHS

Hold On Edna! by Aneira Thomas

“Hold on Edna!” cried the medical team as Edna Rees was about to give birth to her seventh child late on 4 July 1948. If only she could “hold on” for just a few minutes more, then the child would be born on 5 July – the day that the National Health Service came into being.

Edna and her husband Willie wouldn’t have to pay for a midwife – as they had with their previous children. If mother or child was ill, they wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of calling a doctor – let alone the price of medicine.

It was the beginning of a new era in Britain: by successfully ‘holding on’, Edna gave birth to the first baby born in the NHS.

And now Aneira Thomas – named by Edna and Willie after NHS architect and Welsh compatriot Nye Bevan – has told the story of her family in a fascinating book.

That story begins in 1835, in Wells, Somerset, with Torian Churchouse, Aneira’s great, great grandmother on her mother’s side.

Her father, a farmer, had died shortly after her birth, leaving his destitute family to face the grim reality of the workhouse. Tory, as she was known, grew up inside its walls, only leaving as a 19-year-old to marry Huw Hodges, a horse dealer for whom it was love at first sight when he spotted her serving on a workhouse stall at the city’s summer fair.

After Tory’s death, four of her sons set off to walk to Wales to find work. There, Robert married Jemima. Later, their son Thomas married Esther Edmunds, with the eponymous Edna being one of their offspring.

But if the family saga is interesting in its own right – and it is – what gives this book a particular edge is the social history and in particular, the constant theme of the impact of health care – or a lack of it – for women giving birth, for men injured in the mines, for children taken ill suddenly.

Health was a lottery if you were not well off enough not to fear the financial implications of calling a doctor.

The book also casts an eye over levels of ignorance about sex and reproduction – not least through the eyes of Willie’s grandmother, Hannah, who was a midwife in a mining community, just one of many characters to spring to life from the pages.

Aneira herself went on to become a nurse in the NHS and, at the end of the book, among the lengthy acknowledgements, is UNISON, for our “tireless support for the NHS workforce.”

If the bright tone of its telling sometimes belies the seriousness of the subject matter, Aneira Thomas’s book is a powerful reminder of the revolutionary nature of our NHS, even as today, it is at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus in the UK.

It’s very much worth a read. And unlike Edna, there’s nobody to tell you to ‘hold on’ before doing so.

  • Hold on Edna! is available from Mirror Books priced £12:99 for the hardback. It is also available as an ebook.

The article Book review: the birth of the NHS first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Thursday 16 April 2020

Council workers keeping vital local services running during the pandemic deserve a proper pay rise, say unions

Staff keeping vital local services running – including schools, refuse collection and child protection – during the pandemic deserve a proper pay rise, say the three unions representing council staff in England and Wales today (Thursday).

Responding to the 2.75% pay offer for 2020/21 made today by the Local Government Association (LGA), UNISON, Unite and the GMB are urging the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and other ministers to heed the call from the local government employers to fund a top up to reward council and school support staff.

A much-needed increase would ensure that social workers, teaching assistants, refuse collectors and others – who are going above and beyond during the crisis – can have a decent pay rise.

The three unions say the LGA offer – which also includes an extra day of leave for some – falls well short of their 10% claim for this year. They add that it fails to recognise the hard work of local government staff in keeping services running while the country is in lockdown.

The LGA has already asked the government to fund an additional pay increase in addition to its offer. The unions are calling for the employers to write a joint letter with them to Rishi Sunak and communities secretary Robert Jenrick, urging them to reward staff properly.

UNISON head of local government Jon Richards said: “While many are at home, council staff are going above and beyond keeping vital local services running.

“Some are facing huge risks as they go about their work. The least the government can do is to reward them with a proper pay rise and ensure all those that need protective equipment to help keep them safe have access to it now.

“The LGA say they’d like to give council staff more but it’s all cash-strapped local authorities can afford.

“Although an increase on its previous offer of 2%, it still falls well short of what’s both needed and deserved. Staff running key local services are amongst the lowest paid workers in the country and have seen their pay drop substantially in recent years.”

Unite national officer for local government Jim Kennedy said: “This is a totally unrealistic offer, especially given the current crisis where it is our frontline local authority workers who are protecting our communities and vital services, caring for our young and our vulnerable elderly, collecting our rubbish, cleaning our streets, and working in our crematoria to ensure dignity for those who have, sadly, fallen victim to this terrible virus.

“We know the public are appreciative and supportive of our frontline council workforce. Unfortunately, the local government employers are not mirroring public opinion with this low offer, seemingly oblivious to their many years of cynically undervaluing some of the public sector’s lowest paid workers.

“The employers say that they will lobby ministers for additional money for pay – and while we will support that call to government, there can be no kicking the can down the road, yet again, for some of the most low-paid workers in the country, whose true value has come to the fore as they play a critical part in the battle against coronavirus.”

GMB national secretary Rehana Azam said: “We rejected the initial opening offer of 2% as it was woefully low – and that was before the seismic shift caused by coronavirus.

“Right now, our most precious resources are our key workers. They are getting us through this pandemic with their invaluable and selfless dedication in numerous critical roles.

“That’s why we are so disappointed the LGA hasn’t made a strong enough case before tabling a 2.75% offer to government to fund a key workers allowance.

“The ask is simple; we want employers and the government to recognise the strain and huge risks our members are working under. Many of them are struggling to access PPE and are still waiting for the coronavirus testing they have been promised.

“We will continue to make representations for the best settlement and let GMB members have their say on pay.”

Notes to editors:
– The LGA deal is for staff working in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
– Pay for local government workers has dropped in real terms by over 20% in recent years.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Shaun Noble M: 07768 693940 E: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org
GMB Press office M: 07958 156846 E: press.office@gmb.org.uk

The article Council workers keeping vital local services running during the pandemic deserve a proper pay rise, say unions first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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Wednesday 15 April 2020

Recognition for care is welcome but government needs to deliver on PPE, says UNISON

Commenting on the health secretary Matt Hancock’s announcements at the Downing Street briefing today (Wednesday) about care workers, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“It’s right that the care, compassion and selflessness of care workers should be given proper recognition. They’re putting their lives on the line.

“But for all the warm words and promises about supplies of protective equipment, the situation appears to be getting worse, not better.

“Raising the status of the social care ‘brand’ is welcome but it must be backed by a long-term commitment to better pay. There must also be a move away from the fragmented and underfunded system that was already in crisis before the pandemic hit.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk

The article Recognition for care is welcome but government needs to deliver on PPE, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.



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