Time to stop the violence plaguing workers in the community sector

Community service group executive members at the parliamentary launch, with UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis. Left to right: Mitsy Harmon-Russell, Dave Prentis, Kevin Jackson, James Hawker and Lynn Gillespie. Pic: Ralph Hodgson. MPs took time out talking about Brexit yesterdat to join employers and trade union members at the parliamentary launch of UNISON’s community sector Violence at Work Charter. Labour shadow civil society minister Steve Reed hosted the event, speaking of his concern that we need to talk about protecting staff from violence at work in 2018, saying it is dismaying that “the basic safety of workers appears to have fallen down the list of priorities of some employers in the third sector”. MPs  were urged to ask charities and housing associations in their constituencies to sign up to the charter. UNISON member and homeless officer Lynn Gillespie spoke movingly about her own experience. A broken nose and cheekbone and severe bruising were the visible signs that she had been assaulted while doing her job. The impact on her family – her five and seven-year-old daughters – and the emotional scarring are more hidden, but are there none the less. Ms Gillespie said that over the years, telephones, chairs and fists have all been used as weapons against her at work. She also spoke about how for many public service workers it is “an accepted fact” that there are occasions when people behave in a violent or aggressive manner. General secretary’s b...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News charities charity community community and voluntary sector health and safety housing housing associations violence at work Source Type: news