Ministers mustn ’t forget important workers delivering essential services, says UNISON
The government must do more to help thousands of “hidden workers” who are being put under extra pressure or are seeing their health put at risk as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
Alongside the frontline health and care staff, there are people around the UK keeping essential services going, who are being largely forgotten as they too face serious dangers and are being overwhelmed with work, the union warns.
They include refuse collectors, housing officers, social workers and teaching assistants whose work must continue but who are often unable to keep a safe distance or not entitled to safety kit.
Some are handling more potentially hazardous waste or facing other daily problems such as an increase in abuse as a result of lockdown measures, says the union.
UNISON has written to communities secretary Robert Jenrick, asking for proper risk assessments for these workers and a wider distribution of protective equipment (PPE) to cope with the dangers they’re facing. But staff are still facing problems.
Among those facing added pressures according to UNISON are:
Refuse workers, particularly those working for private contractors who are forced to sit in close contact in the cab. Some sensible employers have redeployed drivers to minibuses to take staff to their routes allowing correct social distancing.
Crematorium and cemetery workers who’ve faced virus risks where families have refused to follow the limit on numbers at funerals. Some have ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus Jon Richards local government refuse collectors social workers teaching assistants Source Type: news
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