UNISON president calls for a ‘ global recovery ’ after the pandemic

The conference might be virtual, but the issues are absolutely real, and UNISON members have been making key contributions on a range of important subjects at this week’s TUC congress. Josie Bird, the union’s president (pictured), addressed the general council’s statement on the need for a global recovery for working people. Pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic has “exposed the weaknesses inherent in the neoliberal economic model,” Ms Bird continued by saying that “over-stretched, under-regulated supply chains failed to respond to the demand for personal protective equipment and vital pharmaceuticals. “Countries were forced to compete against each other in a global bidding war which saw the poorest and weakest countries in the Global South lose out. “It also exposed the reality of those supply chains such as for rubber gloves, 60% of which come from Malaysia. “Made in unsafe, unorganised factories, staffed by migrant workers on precarious contracts and at risk of being deported if they try to unionise.” And the president noted that the pandemic has “also exposed leaders from the populist right. Trump, Johnson, Bolsonaro, Modi – men presiding over an incompetent and inadequate response to the challenge leading to millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths.” UNISON’s junior vice president James Anthony voiced the union’s support for the importance of health and safety in the workplace, when he addressed congress i...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article News Covid-19 health and safety international Josie Bird TUC Source Type: news