Why have we not heard complaining fro people working in private sector?

[mywayhighway]

You’d think the only people working at the moment were public sector. DH and I have luckily worked throughout the lockdown, DH is in construction, they have cracked on and found a way around every Covid19 related issue quietly and without fuss. Exactly the same in my workplace (manufacturing). Mainly it’s not rocket science. You don’t hear complaints from supermarket staff or smaller shops keepers.
I’m getting increasingly angry at sectors refusing to get back to work and it’s always public sector jobs where they have big unions and guaranteed wages and no threat of being laid off. Things need to dramatically change, people need to accept the risks and get back to work or hand their notice in. Schools are a prime example and next it’s going to be NHS therapies. Can’t they see they’re refusing to do their job is ultimately going to cause more deaths and have a much detrimental impact than Covid19 long term? Why are public sector workers so special?

I think it’s more the unions (and the unionists that inevitably just parrot whatever the boss says) that are doing the complaining and flexing their muscles. I haven’t heard a single person in any sector complain about having to work/going back. The unions are just exploiting the opportunity to paint the government as the bad guy and assert their dominance. In six to twelve months time they’ll be saying something along the lines of ‘right, out members went back to work to fulfill their contractual obligations, now you owe them. Increase their wages so that we can increase our membership fees.’

Oh get lost OP. I am public sector and am more than happy to go back to work. I'm just not allowed yet.

Why have we not heard complaining fro people working in private sector?

Don’t know who the ‘we’ you’re referring to are OP, but suggest that they learn how to use Google – found these in 4 minutes, and there are loads more examples of supermarket staff, warehouse staff, dentists, factory workers and construction workers having raised safety concerns, staged walkouts, and so on…

'Dancing with devil': people forced back to work fear for health
Government accused of treating manual workers like ‘plebs’ as professionals stay safe at home
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/12/dancing-with-the-devil-safety-concerns-rife-among-people-forced-back-to-work

Coronavirus: Workers 'should not return to unsafe workplaces'
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52610585

Coronavirus: Fears for construction workers' safety as UK building sites reopen
uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/construction-sites-safe-work-coronavirus-covid-19-building-employer-worker-050033337.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANe3KnK2bJ2SsFDaGhJdD8B7TiNcn0S3qCUk2QnvGD0vRnvCkwW_OW3V0n4OZgPuEPNXYXlPvKeft_vsRwRyzUQExJUSzfuP4KEZRl9AEJn2CVhW8CEGZ9bzMQg_9mhWOro6gtkVbEvoTtTO0ljBH_tDMJovvYxtR4sHllhlA_K2

Hundreds of Amazon warehouse workers to call in sick in coronavirus protest
Employees say company has failed to provide adequate safety measures and has refused paid sick leave
www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/20/amazon-warehouse-workers-sickout-coronavirus

Key workers stage mass walk-out over inadequate coronavirus distancing
metro.co.uk/2020/03/25/key-workers-stage-mass-walk-inadequate-coronavirus-distancing-12453944/

ASOS issues lengthy statement as 9 staff test positive for coronavirus and calls made for warehouse to close
www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/asos-coronavirus-statement-barnsley-live-18243867

Firms ordered to stay shut if they cannot protect workers during coronavirus crisis
Between March 9 and May 7, more than 7,149 coronavirus-related calls and online queries were received from people concerned about their safety at work
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/firms-ordered-stay-shut-cannot-18243644

Coronavirus safety concerns at The Range warehouse
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/coronavirus-safety-concerns-range-warehouse-4130806

Staff coronavirus fears led to health inspection at Omagh Meats plantwww.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus/staff-coronavirus-fears-led-to-health-inspection-at-omagh-meats-plant-39201917.html

Nannies 'Scared' Of Coronavirus Risk After Boris Johnson Tells Them To Go Back To Work
Despite the government's new guidelines calling for childminders and nannies to return to work, many are refusing to do so.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nannies-scared-to-go-back-to-work-coronavirus_uk_5ebd7ab7c5b60f9849bb248b?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADaTHYKtZm1kQ0V5_vxHm-h9rfFv8AkaF_OFk_ig_2ZgxPqx9drwBR0R2zIvEfxjY_pM7GnUhgKSKG0a4fl6p2rjPXNFpetyJNt851OnwexXTJ2Gzf16OKp6QlKTdWmMhV9Xbva_cJu2llHURFTwku-YXLnNGa_FbmVj_7PCRZmg

Firms unable to introduce coronavirus safety measures should not reopen – HSE
www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/12/firms-unable-to-introduce-coronavirus-safety-measures-should-not-reopen-hse/

M&S workers stage walkout over coronavirus safety fears
www.gmb.org.uk/news/mands-workers-stage-walkout

I'm public sector and therefore can't be furloughed, so no choice but carry on, whilst looking after 2 kids. Yabvu.

Anyone who is having concerns about safety at work may find this legal advice helpful, one of the many articles responding to people concerned about the call to go back to workplaces - the ones you claim don't exist unless they're in the public sector OP

Coronavirus: Can I refuse to go back to work if I think it's unsafe?
www.itv.com/news/2020-05-12/coronavirus-back-to-work-employment-rights/

Poultry and meat workers have walked out here. Amazon were going to have a mass walkout. Most shops have not reopened. Those that have, have PPE, plastic screens and massive queues.

It's a load of teacher bashing bollocks to say that education is the only place with concerns.

You don’t hear complaints from supermarket staff or smaller shops keepers

I've heard plenty of complaints from private sector workers being expected to work in usafe environments. Try reading more widely.

I’m getting increasingly angry at sectors refusing to get back to work and it’s always public sector jobs where they have big unions and guaranteed wages and no threat of being laid off

Public sector lay offs have happened wholesale in this country for decades, they don't all have guaranteed wages and are subject to wage freezes whilst the private sector rises, solely on the whim of government ideology.

You need to use common sense here.

Ah yes, the common cry of whingers without actual evidence along with "trust your gut". Whose common sense? Everyone will have their own view, there is no "common sense". If I look around me common sense tells me the earth is flat. Its facts and evidence beyond my immediate experience which tell me otherwise.

I too have 'cracked on', found a way around every Covid19 related issue quietly and without a fuss and worked throughout the lockdown.

I'm a teacher BTW.

NHS and local authority therapists are working! Every single day. I manage a social care team and although some musculoskeletal clinics have been suspended the team has been moved to supporting others areas such as wards or community. They have willingly engaged in additional training and taking on weekend and longer hours! Some of us are working from home as visiting clients from home, others are working in hospital settings. Thank goodness we have Unions - they have been calling out senior managers who have PPE In stock but have not been distributing it to staff this week.

it’s always public sector jobs where they have big unions

Maybe if unions hadn't fallen so far out of favour, more people would have better protection now.
Also, public sector jobs aren't all as cushy as many people seem to presume.

Hi. I'm a public sector worker. I havent stopped working throughout this. Shove your opinion right up it.

Someone on twitter pointed out that Eton and Harrow will not go back till September.

"Fees per pupil at Eton are £42,501 a year and they still can’t afford to make the place safe to reopen.

What chance has your local cash-starved academy got?"

And as for opening schools without adequate health and safety measures, you do remember this is coming from the same government that earlier in the pandemic claimed infections wouldn't spread in care homes?

I've seen LOADS of complaints from supermarket workers.
You seem resentful of trade union members OP. Why not join your own then?
I'd rather more people had rights than fewer.

Also the research seems to be showing that Social Care workers are more likely to die from Covid than NHS workers (not more than general population) which suggests to me that the real problem exists in less controlled environments.

I always wonder how many teacher/children lives/ increase in R value we're willing to write off as acceptable?

As far as I can see, places where people have been working have been trying to protect staff- social distancing, protective screens, PPE etc. What have the gov. done to protect teachers? Nothing. They are expected to just return to class as normal- yes there are guidelines, but they are not actually practicable. PPE is not recommended. There isn't space in schools for social distancing, you can't teach 5 year olds from 6ft away, classes can't be split in to 15 because there isn't enough Staff or classrooms, and they want all children to return for the last month before school breaks for the summer so that means there won't be classes of 15 in a room if the school is full. Most will have around 30. How can teachers not be expected to question?

Me and husband, public sector, not stopped working.

The R0 rate will spiral if kids are rushed back to school. Then we’ll have too many serious cases at once, and then the NHS gets overwhelmed and more people die. This isn’t about teachers or unions digging their heels in (though the DM is working hard to paint it as that), they are simply asking for the 5 expert medical criteria to be met. I thought this was all about the science?

Do you not think it odd, UK and US were after the peak cases in most other places, yet we’re the only countries so far trying to compress and end lockdown?

Private sector office workers are mostly WFH.

We have a food related production line which has remained open. The company has been in constant communication and consultation with staff making sure every single one is ok to come to work.

Lines are running at half speed so less staff are required. There is plenty of space. All production lines floors are taped off with areas each member of staff is allowed in with at least 2m gaps. They have dropped producing products where this isn't possible. Corridors have 2m spacers in them. Supervisors monitor and ensure social distances is constantly maintained, the employees are comfortable if there is an problem the line will be stopped and the problem will be resolved as health and safety is a priority.

Supermarket workers have remained open because they have no choice, they don't have a strong union. Do they look happy to do it? No. They would rather be safe at home. They have to do it, risk their health or risk losing there jobs. Do you really think this is right?

Of course unions will stand up for the health and safety of their members, but really, they shouldn't have to if the government worked with them, listened and acted to make sure they were confident it is actually safe instead of saying get on with it and wash you hands!

It amazes me that people think that the public sector have stopped working.

Who do they think are emptying their bins and recycling?
Who do they think is processing the thousands and thousands of applications for council tax reductions, universal credit claims?
Who do they think are going to peoples houses to deliver food packages, library books and telephone people that need looking out for?
Who do they think are policing the streets?
Who do they think are answering the hundreds more telephone calls to the council about how to do things during the coronavirus pandemic
Who do they think have set up all the public sector workers so that they can work from home to answer enquires
who do they think works to continue to pay the public sector workers whilst they continue to work,
who do they think are looking after the children of keyworkers doing this work and working for the NHS
who do they think continues to run lifeline for the elderly
who do they think registers the enormous increase in deaths to be registered
who do they think mans the crematoriums or digs graves in municipal cemerties

There are so many jobs that are being completed for the public by the public sector and these jobs seems to go unnoticed, Im sure they wouldn't be unnoticed if they weren't being done....

I don't actually know any public sector workers that have been furloughed, many have been redeployed to other new jobs that have arisen and many are working from home

I’m getting increasingly angry at sectors refusing to get back to work and it’s always public sector jobs where they have big unions and guaranteed wages and no threat of being laid off

Like the NHS? I’m in a massive union, (Unison) I’ve got no chance of being laid off and a guaranteed wage / pay freeze. I and my nursing colleagues have been working throughout so please don’t tar all public sector workers with the same brush.

We are never going to completely eliminate the risk of catching Covid19 in any work place, some will be riskier than others but that’s life. People need to get this message and start thinking of the bigger picture. So someone who works for ASOS caught Covid19. Did they die? No they we’re I’ll for a week. Big deal.

"the bigger picture"

Trouble is, there are multiple 'bigger pictures'. And we don't all agree on which one is the most important.

My point about libraries was that people say "Why aren't public sector people back at work?" then talk about teachers, as if we're the only public sector workers currently not working or in work. (Even though we are still working.)

I was merely highlighting that there are other public sector workers who cannot do their normal jobs and are not seen to be doing their normal jobs. They don't get a mention though.

It's like "public sector" is a synonym for teacher for some people.

inews.co.uk/news/coronavirus-cancer-treatment-operation-chemotherapy-cancelled-2853819?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=jp_reshare&fbclid=IwAR3AMKEZg-myWDjbA9uyNooMq6wIVVCUsZkcnxIYVMQr4ubxhCU89xtz95E