Southwark has one of the largest numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country standing at 957 (14th April) and sadly deaths. Just weeks ago it was reported that two Southwark council workers had died. One, a social worker, whose union has unbelievably had to continue to demand adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Across London a Hackney hospital doctor, who had flagged up the lack of NHS resources weeks ago, has died of COVID-19 along with over 20 health care workers.
Transport workers, the key to getting the majority of essential workers to and from work have seen more than 21 deaths across London, yet still, the array of bus companies that make up the bus network, have not put in place basic safety measures such as blocking off the front doors to reduce transmission. (Unite has though just won sick pay from day one.)
Whilst essential workers have been called ‘heroes’ they are not being given the basic resources and health and safety to protect the public, themselves and their families. This is literally killing the essential workforce largely lower-paid workers, disproportionately, BAME. People are dying because of the government choices and many left out after years of the austerity liethat allows such a barbaric way to organise society.
We believe the deaths, and such a volume of cases, should not have taken place if the advice given by the World Health Authority (WHO) earlier this year was in place. Germany had less than 4,000 deaths with a larger population, Kerala, a region in India also took the approach of combining lockdown, with large scale test and trace, alongside providing basic supplies for those hit hard by massive job losses.
Join Southwark Trades Council to discuss this on Tuesday 21 April at 7 – 8.15pm to share tactics and strategies to keep safe our workplaces and community.
The following demands represent, some of how trade unionists believe it would be better to deal with COVID-19, and needs to urgently be acted upon to save lives. It is necessary to go beyond blaming those who might be outdoors or suggesting that there is an overuse of PPE.
National Health Service & social care
- Emergency increase in funding for the NHS and for integrated and better coordinated social care – Bring it back in-house to councils!
- Increase procurement and production to meet the urgent needs for more protective and medical equipment, including ventilators and mass virus testing. Take over industries and convert production with trade union representation on the organising committees
- Provide appropriate levels of protection for all frontline workers and this STUC supports workers to walk off the job if this isn’t provided. This is most effectively done with other workers and ideally trade union organising
- Mass testing and tracing for all key workers use and make ready University or other labs as needed
- Take over private healthcare facilities and staff, and any other private facilities necessary for care, quarantine, and supplies. Requisition private beds and resources. Nationalise the NHS!
For all workers
- Sick pay, at full pay, from day one! (without it causing disciplinary procedures)
- A real living wage of at least £15 per hour for essential workers!
- Trade unions to establish an all-union health and safety committee in every workplace to agree on joint actions required to guarantee the safety and provide healthcare for all!
- Democratic trade union involvement in organising the emergency response!
We appreciate this does not cover all sectors or the impact of job cuts and will be aiming to share useful targeted information and guidance over the coming weeks.
Take ACTION
More and more people have felt that NHS and key workers are not fully supported, the Thursday #ClapforCarers is becoming an expression of solidarity that could be esculated. We strongly encourge that you, your neighbours do the following:
- Add the following to any social media messages on the evening and share in advance #PPENow #PPEForAll #TestTestTest #ShutTheSites #PAYEveryWorker #CloseTheFrontDoor
- Download or create posters like this TEST TEST TEST for your windows and take a selfie and share
- Look to share chants ‘Test, Test, Test, PPE, Keep our workers virus free’
- Join bus workers in London for a minutes silence at 11am 17 April.
What is Southwark Trades Council?
Trades Union Councils can bring together unions to work and campaign around issues affecting working people in their local workplaces and communities. We have affiliates from Unison and Unite and strong links with the RMT.
Find out more in detail about how workers are affected and most importantly what you can do in your workplace or community, be it solidarity with the NHS or as transport workers.
Southwark Trade Union Council 