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Britain’s largest unions today threaten to tell millions of members not to return to work unless the government introduces policies to ensure that workplaces are safe.
Union leaders like Unite, Unison and the General have written an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding that he guarantee “the correct policies and practices to ensure the safety of workplaces” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter, published today in The Observer, and which is endorsed by other unions, including Municipal, Boilermakers (GMB) and the Union of Commercial, Distributive and Related Workers (USDAW), also urges the government to increase funding for the implementation of health and safety in the workplace.
It comes as Johnson is expected today to announce a slow reduction in blocking measures after the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far killed more than 31,000 people in the UK.
Union leaders like Unite, Unison and the General have written an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding that he ensure “the correct policies and practices to ensure the safety of workplaces” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The open letter comes as Johnson is expected to announce a slow decline in blocking measures today following the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far killed more than 31,000 people in the UK. In the picture: a graph showing the number of Covid-19 deaths in the UK
The prime minister is expected to remove the “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives” order in the next phase of the crisis during a televised speech tonight at 7pm in an effort to reopen parts of the economy.
But unions say a significant number of their members have died while doing essential work during the pandemic.
And they have warned that members must be adequately protected on the job as the country comes out of the blockade.
In the letter to The Observer, they wrote: ‘After years of cuts, the government must increase funding for proactive monitoring and enforcement of health and safety.
“And we need a public information campaign for rebel chiefs to face sanctions.
‘The union movement wants to be able to recommend plans for the government to return to work.
“But for us to do that we need to make sure that ministers have listened and that we stay safe and also save lives at work.”
The warning comes as union transport bosses also threatened to derail government plans to free the country from the blockade.
Yesterday, the general secretary of the rail, maritime and transport union (RMT), Mick Cash, warned that the union “will not compromise” the health and safety of its members.
He said: “There is a rush race to lift the blockage of our transportation services by May 18 and it is fraught with danger for both passengers and staff.”
“Maintaining the government’s own social distancing guide would mean a great logistical and personal contribution to manage passenger flows to the trains and it is imperative that all the personnel involved in this process are duly protected.
‘RMT will not compromise the health, safety and livelihoods of our members and we will accept nothing that does not prioritize the safety of staff and passengers.
“If that means advising our members not to work in unsafe conditions and to violate the government’s own guidelines, that is exactly what we will do.”
Unions have also threatened to hamper government plans to reopen schools, which have been closed to most students, apart from the children of key workers, since March.
Yesterday, the general secretary of the rail, maritime and transport union (RMT), Mick Cash, warned that the union “will not compromise” the health and safety of its members. Photo Shows: Passengers on a London Underground earlier this month
Ministers are believed to point to a gradual return to schools in June, with elementary students returning first, followed by Year 10 and 12 classes in secondary schools.
But union bosses have sent a list of key measures to the government that they say must be met before students in England can safely return to their desks.
Includes extra money for deep cleaning and personal protective equipment (PPE) and local powers to close schools if clusters of Covid-19 infections break out in a particular area.
The joint statement was sent to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on Friday by agencies including the NAHT Union of School Leaders and the National Union of Education (NEU).
Evidence that school labor unions said it was “essential” to consider before students return does not include an increase in the number of students until the full implementation of a national exam and a follow-up scheme.
Later today, the government is expected to begin easing the country’s blockade, which it imposed in March in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The government is expected to drop its “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives” message and replace it with “stay alert, control the virus, and save lives.”
It comes after Mr. Johnson and other top cabinet members approved a less aggressive strategy to pull the country out of shutdown on Wednesday, on the grounds that the country’s infection rate is still too high.
The actual number is reported to be around 14,000 people per day, while the government’s target is around 4,000, according to a Sunday Times report.
Policies such as allowing more than one home to mix again and reopening schools for more students are reportedly delayed for several weeks.
Meanwhile, the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) received warnings that there could be 100,000 deaths by the end of 2020 if the measures are relaxed too quickly.
Mr. Johnson (pictured speaking to a member of the public at St James’ Park) and other senior cabinet members reportedly approved a less aggressive strategy to pull the country out of the shutdown on Wednesday, based on that the country’s infection rate is still too high
The government is expected to drop its “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives” message and replace it with “stay alert, control the virus, and save lives.”
Researchers at the London School of Tropical Hygiene, Imperial College London and elsewhere, modeled a number of different approaches to getting out of the blockade “to assess which were viable and which were not,” a source told The Times.
As part of the changes, Johnson will also announce a five-level warning system, administered by a Joint Biosecurity Center, to monitor virus risk across the country and encourage public adherence to the new measures.
Alerts range from Level One (green) to Level Five (red), with Britain currently at Level Four.
Johnson is expected to announce that England is about to move to Level Three from its Level Four rating, in a sign that there is no significant increase in the rate of Covid-19 infection.
The classification system will be administered by a Joint Biosecurity Center, which will be responsible for detecting local Covid-19 spikes so that ministers can increase restrictions when necessary to help reduce infection rates.
Despite the government moving to ease the country’s blockade, many have expressed concern.
A poll conducted today for The Sun revealed that 90 percent of Britons oppose lifting restrictions this week.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the Labor mayor of Greater Manchester, tweeted that “I find it a mistake to drop the clear message of staying home.”
Dave Ward, secretary general of the Communication Workers Union, said: ‘The messages from this Government throughout this crisis have been a total joke, but its new catchphrase takes it to a new level. Stay alert? It is a deadly virus, not a zebra crossing.
However, there was praise for the new message from the Bruges Group expert group. He tweeted: ‘The new government slogan is good.
‘Green replaces red for a calmer feeling. ‘Stay Alert’ replaces ‘Stay Home’ and underlines individual responsibility.
‘Control the virus’ is a positive message. It is within our power to do so. ‘
