Is there anyone that can help my DH while he waits for his Union? Key Worker

[Oaksquarebox]

My husband works for UPS, the courier company. He is being classed as a Key Worker. He has no issue doing his usual deliveries to Drs, Dentists, Care Homes etc but a big part of his last 2 days has been clothes shopping, trainers, blinds, rugs. Some of which has been on next day delivery so people at home ordering and expecting a delivery.

A big proportion of his day has been anything but essential work. He is therefore in a van, mixing with people and delivering parcels 8 hours a day.

He is asking his union if this should be the case and for their input. No one at his depot is happy but UPS are bastards to work for. They’ve been threatened with disciplinary if they don’t attend.

By mixing with people do you mean fellow workers?

Delivering to people’s doors, sitting in a van that was driven by someone else the previous day and not being given any supplies to clean it.

Totally agree it's mostly unimportant stuff, not worth the risk and certainly not necessity. The keyworker role needs review as it's too lenient and lots of non-essential people still being pushed out to work.

1. He needs to disinfect the van.
2. He needs to do, and should be doing, non-contact deliveries.

Stopping what you may call "non essential" deliveries may seriously impact people's wellbeing - physical and mental. I've ordered exercise bits and pieces as I am on the twelve-week list. Normally I would be out running/cycling daily and climbing - all of those things have had to stop for me.

I've also had to order new flooring - due to a medical condition - I will be learning how to install it myself but I needed to order it as it is now a major health issue.

Online shopping and deliveries of any sort are still allowed and therefore must be considered essential by govt. However, they should be making arrangements so the vans can be properly cleaned (probably) providing gloves and have a system in place so there is no contact in deliveries.

The DPD guy who delivered my usual quarterly 8kg supply of wanky cat crunchies this morning just put it down by the door and took a photo of it, no signing or contact required.

That's not a luxury - it means one of us isn't going to the shops to buy two tins of cat food every other day.

Our DPD guy turned up in mask and gloves, stood 2m away and asked us the bring it in so he could photograph it being over the threshold.

It was dog food, and ordered long before all this.

Obviously I don't know about cleaning the van - if it were me I'd be demanding cleaning supplies and pay for time to use them, or reimbursement for using my own. I'd expect the union to back him up on this.

Are they not allowing non contact deliveries? Our postman ran the doorbell and told me he'd left parcels on the doorstep while standing well away from me

How does he know what is in the parcels?

But isn’t the judgement of Key Worker made on the job role - delivery driver - not the contents of the deliveries?

My DPD delivery driver today put the package on the doorstep, then stepped back to a safe distance before I answered the door. He was wearing a mask, and I didn't have to sign anything.

What does he want his union to do? He won't be able to choose not to go to work and still be paid if his job is needed. There seems to be an impression going around that if you don't want to work you can be paid 80%. That's not correct, it's to help people who have no work because their business has been ordered to close or where jobs have disappeared temporarily, eg in the airline industry.

Everyone, not just key workers, are allowed to go to work. Including him, and deliveries should be made in a manner which allows distancing. The issue though is the lack of cleaning of the van, which he could sort if you can buy some wipes. The company should be doing it though I agree.

Everyone has to go to work unless you can work from home, unless you are self isolating. You can’t choose not to work. Most people have to go out to work. The employer should be doing its best to allow staff to work from home where possible, but it’s not possible here. They should be trying to protect you as much as possible while you are working.

Can he not just wipe down the van? Past that he can socially distance and do contact less deliveries, no need for him to mix with people. Wear gloves to touch packages ?

On line shops are open, the government has been clear, both last night and tonight, at the press conference, the modelling was done based on many people still working, they don’t want the economy to cease.