COVID-19: Black and female workers – more impacted than the rest

UNISON believes that the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on different groups is devastatingly different and is becoming increasingly clear. In evidence to parliament this week, the union asserted that COVID-19 is tracking and deepening long-term inequalities in our society. UNISON Assistant General Secretary Christina McAnea said: “Inequalities emerging through the pandemic are chilling evidence to support UNISON’s demands on workplace rights and decent public services. We need them both now and in the future.” In evidence to the cross-party Women and Equalities Committee this week, UNISON set out how our members – women and Black workers, young and older workers, disabled and LGBT+ workers – are on the frontline in the pandemic. In the social care workforce, over 85% are women, with many Black and migrant workers; a sixth of social care workers in England are not originally from the UK. They are undervalued, low-paid, with many on insecure contracts. Now they are paying the highest price, along with the vulnerable people they care for. 72% of all health and social care staff who have died with COVID-19 are Black. And Black households are almost twice as likely as white people to report having lost income and jobs. Workers under the age of 35 are more likely to have been made unemployed or furloughed than older colleagues. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is also an equality issue. Because of the concentration of women, Black and migrant workers on th...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article black members coronavirus Covid Covid-19 equalities PPE women Source Type: news