unions threatening to withdraw keyworkers

[nuttymomma]

Just spoke to someone I know who is a senior legal person for a large well known union.

Due to concerns around safety, lack of PPE etc, many keyworkers are saying they are not wanting to work and apparently the unions will encourage and support them to refuse to work for their own safety.

This would really fuck up the NHS, care homes, social care, education etc.

I don't know what to think!

Of course unions want their members to have the correct PPE and are lobbying hard to achieve this.

That’s not the same thing as “Unions threatening to withdraw keyworkers” as the OP has stated they have been told.

I know a fair number of “key workers” within the civil service who could wfh but are being forced by overzealous managers into attending the office, sometimes via public transport. It needs to be addressed. Only the unions can, I guess.

We need to stop this virus spreading by ensuring that only genuine key workers are out and about. For everyone’s sake.

I do agree that it is outrageous there isn't adequate PPE. What are the unions suggesting as the solution though? There is a global shortage of PPE, even since China announced to the world what was happening it's been hard to get hold of; aside from the stuff purchased abroad that has been found to be below standard I guess, and some bits already in companies stock etc. Are they going to be pushing for UK manufacturers to come up with new designs? Helping them to repurpose factories? Which is being done, admittedly not fast enough, but the acceptance procedures for 'new' companies making PPE and hand sanitizer is as quick as it can be. Let's hope that it's being produced and distributed before the peak hey, otherwise there'll be no one in hospitals. Will they be supporting that?

I presume everything is being done to manufacture more ASAP. Unions are right to be concerned and care for their workers and to ensure that no cost is spared getting PPE out as soon as its available. However it’s not like it’s being held back intentionally at this point. Now would be the time to insist that going forward high levels of PPE are kept in stock to ensure we don’t have shortages again.

A lot of people do seem to think that there's loads available but the government just don't want to buy it though. I am not saying it's acceptable meerly by pointing out that the supply chain is doing things as quickly as it can in challenging circumstances; maybe the unions could support the effort somehow to get it distributed faster.

better to have care without PPE than no care at all Said a selfish bastard who isn't on the front line.

Section 44 only works if no reasonable measures have been implemented. All reasonable measures have been implemented as far as possible.

Can the PPE be conjured up? Does it exist in sufficient quantities within the UK?

If yes, the unions are correct.

If no, then we need to carry on doing the best we can with what we can get.

Why is my life or that of my family any less valuable than yours, just because I'm a frontline NHS worker? If I get ill or die from this, who will look after your family?

Wearing PPE for 12+ hour shifts 5 days a week is hellish. I'd rather be sat at home safe with my family. However, I still go to work, so expect my employer to provide basic safety equipment for me. Although I fully expect the guidelines will be changed this week due to lack of availability.

My boss change their minds almost daily on what level of PPE we should use..I’m guessing it relates to what they have available to give us...

Or make it. I keep reading about distilleries that have turned their production over to making handgel. What does ppe consist of?

I don’t think all the measure have been implemented at all. Most schools don’t even have soap or paper towels.

And if they re/open soon there are insufficient sinks for a huge student population.

If you want key workers, protect your key workers.

This.

Your dad sounds like a selfish twat with no real idea what your frontline staff are facing.

NHS are looking for volunteers so he can put his money where his mouth is...

Understand where they are coming from if true. Really cannot blame them at all. Plus, surely they will def get what they want given circumstances and lack of healthcare to start with. That the frontline staff have no PPE is beggars belief. That others expect them to just carry on as normal without risks mitigated somewhat..is also awful but not surprising

Breweries are having their sanitizer checked, and orders drawn up. Same for companies who are putting forward bids for making PPE. It isn't an acceptable situation, and those expecting people to just get on with it likely wouldn't be so happy to do so themselves. But things are going on in the background, just have to really hope it comes through asap and can be distributed without delay. Having a UK supply chain in place would essentially mean an infinite (well, almost) supply as needed. There is a blank cheque for acquiring it, just it isn't worth spewing out sub standard stuff, or buying it from abroad when others have found it not to be meeting minimum guidelines. The unions have a lot of power though, I wonder if they could lobby for it to be done quicker, or add support that way somehow which would in turn help protect those who need it.

Reasonable if the correct equipment isnt being provided. If it all goes wrong then someone dies or has their physical health compromised long-term then l doubt there will be sufficiently compensated

Friend of mine works for one of the big supermarkets, no screens and no ppe. If she catches it I’d have thought (might be wrong) that she’d have a case for suing her employer for not taking steps to reduce her risk. Tesco staff in same town have gloves and masks.

better to have care without PPE than no care at all.

For the person receiving care, yeah obviously. For the staff..not so much

And I’m a qualified (but not working) healthcare worker. I have a bank contract. Am I falling over myself to go and do shifts without correct ppe. No I’m not! I won’t do any shifts unless WHO guidelines are followed for ppe.

I'm classed as a keyworker, I work in merchandising but our employer has managed to stretch the guidelines by saying we work in supermarkets.

If I have cv God knows how many people I have infected, we are being sent to up to 6 different stores in one day.
The employer refuses to shut down.

Thankfully I am now on two weeks paid holiday.

I felt so at risk when working and very disappointed in my employer, they wouldn't even supply hand sanitizer, let alone gloves.

Do you realise key workers are people too, OP?

Trade unions being helpful as ever.

For those against this, what's the answer then?
I'm a care home manager. We were promised PPE two weeks ago from
The government after our usual supplier of gloves suddenly couldn't fill our usual order (which he said was because he had to prioritise the NHS). We were then told the government would be delivering some PPE. Now told it's all been re routed to the Excel Nightingale hospital.
I've got masks to last a week, gloves just over a week.
I've got ten service users all doubly incontinent who need full support with all aspects of life and 5 are symptomatic. What am I meant to ask of my staff (for their 8.47 pay ph)? That they risk their own health to come to work? That they do messy and unpleasant personal care tasks wearing Marigolds?
We are being lied to about PPE... and as non NHS (charity provision with LA contract), we will be last on line when any does become available .

Given that protection of their members is a primary function of a trade union, I'd be bloody disappointed if they weren't tbh.

Given that this virus was identified as a risk back at the start of the year, the failure to buy in more PPE is a massive fail on the part of the government imo.