‘We are in the business of protecting the most vulnerable people’

It is worrying that the number of health and safety reps in workplaces nationally keeps decreasing, North West delegate Gaynor Clarke told representatives of UNISON community workers gathered in Cardiff City Hall at the weekend. Speaking to delegates at the union’s community service group conference, she added: “We need them in the community sector,” citing the ever-present risk of violence from vulnerable clients. “We’re in the business of protecting the most vulnerable people,” she said, “and in our workplace that means our members.” Introducing the service group’s annual report at the start of conference, chair Malcolm Gray had recalled work over the past year promoting the union’s Violence at Work charter which “has led to real improvements with employers committing to best practice”. But there is still a lot of work to be done, conference agreed. As Anjona Roy, speaking for the service group executive in the health and safety debate pointed out, the work done on the charter “is a tribute to our union”. But at the same time, “the red-top media attack on health and safety has been relentless, against a background of austerity, which is a political choice with chosen victims”. Conference agreed and called on the union to continue promoting the value of health and safety and the importance of union health and safety reps.   Tackling racism in our workplaces Conference agreed to work with employers and the union’s national Black members...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article 2020 Community Conference adult care community and voluntary housing Housing Association housing crisis social care Source Type: news