Dear Member
Hi Everyone! We’re back in the swing of our nightly emails! We hope you’re all keeping well and are managing to (safely) enjoy some of the lovely sun we’ve had.
Whilst we’ve had some really positive feedback about our regular updates, we remain conscious that many of the updates are specific to particular members and we welcome feedback, especially if you’re having issues during this time in your workplace that you would like us to address- please do get in touch!
Domestic Abuse - the real exception to lockdown
When Dominic Cummings’ spoke at his press conference to defend his 260 mile dash to Durham, when his wife was ill potentially with Covid he relied on his “exceptional” need for childcare (we will say nothing about the eyesight test-drive to Barnard Castle).
In describing his rather loose interpretation of the lockdown rules he sought to rely on an apparent loophole in the government’s quarantine laws. After the guidelines were imposed in March to counteract the Covid-19 outbreak, a clause was subsequently added, following pressure from campaigners, to provide protective measures for those stuck in domestic abuse households. This clause allowed for the lockdown to be breached in exceptional circumstances, where vulnerable people were in danger- real and imminent. The clear intention of this rule was to safeguard those suffering from abuse and neglect; as all senior government figures knew.
For thousands of people suffering domestic abuse, the government’s “stay at home” slogan never meant staying safe, which is why women’s organisations and child abuse charities pushed for protections that would allow domestic abuse survivors and their children to legally exit their home.
Refuge, the charity that runs the Domestic Abuse helpline said that over the past three consecutive weeks it recorded a 66% increase in calls to its helpline and recorded a 957% increase in web traffic over the past two weeks. Domestic abuse sadly is not “exceptional”: for some it is horrifyingly mundane and lockdown has, sadly predictably, only exacerbated an insidious, shrouded crisis. The number of refuge beds, reduced over the years are under significant pressure across the country. Frontline services have been decimated through years of austerity cuts and the current crisis has had a huge impact on these life-saving and life-changing services.
Who to contact:
If you, your child or anyone in the family are at immediate risk of serious harm, you should contact the police urgently, CALL 999, press 55 when prompted if you can't speak.
If you are a Wirral resident and are experiencing domestic abuse or believe someone you know is: Wirral Integrated Front Door: 0151 606 2008 (Mon to Fri 9am-5pm). Out of hours call the Emergency Duty Team on 0151 677 6557.
Wirral Family Safety Unit: Independent Domestic Violence Advisors will continue to offer telephone support to victims of domestic abuse call an advisor on 0151 666 4914.
Tomorrow's Women Wirral:0151 647 7907
Wirral Women and Children’s Aid 24/7 helpline: 0151 643 9366
Worst Kept Secret Helpline: 0800 028 3398.
Refuge: (includes information for men) refuge.org.uk 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors: 0808 801 0327.
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428.
Welsh Women's Aid Live Fear Free 24-hour helpline: 0808 80 10 800
Schools
Unison has issued the following statement today:
“We know this is a really anxious time for school staff in England and many of you will be unsure of where you stand with regards to returning to work on 1 June. Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to continue to produce robust advice for members. We are having final discussions over the next couple of days with the Department for Education, the Secretary of State and other education unions, before the government makes a final decision on whether to go ahead with expanding pupil numbers in primary schools on 1 June.
Once the final position of the government is made clear on Thursday at the official lockdown review, we will issue further advice for members.”
This statement clearly relates to the national position but you will know that Wirral UNISON and the teaching unions have been pressing that schools do not open until it is safe. As a result we believe that no schools will be opening in Wirral on the week beginning the 1st June. We will remain in discussion with schools about when it is safe to do so, and how any wider re-opening will be managed.
We have however heard suggestions from some schools that staff who are high risk, or live with some who is, or who have concerns about childcare, will be expected to come into to school or take unpaid leave. We want to be clear that any such proposal is completely unacceptable, unsafe and potentially discriminatory. Please get in touch if this is suggested to you.
Wirral Met College
Following the government announcement on Monday 11th May that colleges should begin planning to allow some form of face-to-face contact with some learners in the next half-term in addition to the home learning tasks they are set.
UNISON recognises that it is crucial that colleges re-open but in order to do so, it is essential that staff and student safety is guaranteed beforehand; and working with other college unions, UNISON has set out the following five tests that must be met by the government and colleges before students can be welcomed back:
Test 1: Much lower numbers of Covid-19 cases
The new case count must be much lower than it is now, with a sustained downward trend and confidence that new cases are known and counted promptly. And the Government must have extensive, open and transparent arrangements in place for testing, contact tracing and isolating those with Covid-19 symptoms.
Test 2: A national plan for social distancing
The Government must have a national plan in place which includes parameters for both appropriate physical distancing and safe levels of social mixing in all further education settings. To help ensure physical distancing during travel and at colleges, all staff and students who can work and study from home must continue to do so.
Test 3: Comprehensive testing
Comprehensive access to regular testing for students and staff, with isolation for all suspected cases, to ensure colleges don’t become hotspots for Covid-19. In addition to routine testing, protocols to be in place to ensure testing across whole college sites and other non-college work-based learning sites whenever a confirmed case of Covid-19 occurs.
Test 4: A whole college strategy for health and safety
Risk assessments and safe ways of working for all tasks and spaces within a college should be established with relevant staff and unions in advance. This should include regular deep cleaning and stringent hygiene measures. Where PPE is identified as required by risk assessments, supplies of these are secured before re-opening of affected areas. The strategy and risk assessments must be clearly communicated to all stakeholders.
Test 5: Protection for the vulnerable
Vulnerable staff, and staff who live with vulnerable people, must work from home, fulfilling their professional duties to the extent that is possible. Plans must specifically address the protection of all staff, students and members of their households who are vulnerable to Covid-19.
UNISON believes that social distancing plans extend beyond the college premises to cover things like travelling to and from college and socialising. Therefore, to help deal with those challenges, staff and students who can work from home should continue to do so.
The physical conditions in which any workers are required to work, including at home, allocation of work and health and safety are all matters for collective bargaining and as such it is essential that UNISON is consulted and engaged in effective negotiations in regards to any plans moving forward.
We will be meeting with the College next week to discuss plans.
Mindfulness Webinar
Back by popular demand, Dave Spencer from Mindfulness Liverpool will be running a Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Stress Webinar for UNSION members on 18th
June , 5—6.30pm. The session will cover:
- Practical and accessible tools and techniques that you can apply in your everyday life straight away
- Opportunities to try and out and practice different approaches to mindfulness with the guidance of an experienced, professional teacher
- Brief introduction to theory behind mindfulness practice
- Opportunities for questions and discussion with the teacher and group
Follow-up resources and links, including audio tracks and reading materials will be provided
To book on, RSVP to the event: mindfulness_seminar
That’s all for today everyone! We will have more tomorrow, please pass our updates on to colleagues and urge them to join Unison if they haven’t done already. Here’s the link to join up! JOIN UNISON
Take care of yourselves and each other. We’ll be back in touch tomorrow.
In solidarity!
Lois and Dave
Dave: davidnjones@wirral.gov.uk 07880199539
Lois: loisfounds1@wirral.gov.uk 07384512521
Published on: May 28, 2020