Hello!
Well we’ve arrived at another weekend, and a blustery and cooler weekend. We hope you manage to find some shelter not just from the wind but from the pressures this pandemic brings to all.
Many of you will have heard the news this evening that the R rate (infection) has risen back above 1 in the North West, and we now have the highest rate in the country. What this means remains to be seen, but we note that the Government has recently moved away form a ‘follow the science’ approach, and there is an increasingly apparent divide between the scientists and the governments. This will cause concern to many and may have an impact on the provision of many services and jobs (not to mention the potential health impact). We will be monitoring this and what the implications are over the coming days and we will keep you informed.
Schools – No Wider Opening Until Its Safe
Wirral Unison, in alliance with the teaching unions have been clear that schools should not open until its safe. Despite the Government calling for a return on 1 June we did not believe it was safe on that date, and it has become clear the governments own scientific advisers agreed, but were ignored. We campaigned against opening and schools in Wirral did not open on 1June. We know that many schools have been planning for the 8 June – we still held serious concerns that it was not yet safe
Sadly today rise in the infection rate has indicated that we were right. When Public Health revealed the rise this afternoon Wirral Unison immediately contact Council Leaders asking them to pause any wider re-opening. We are pleased that the Council have tonight announced that they support moves to pause reopening. We hope all Wirral schools will listen to this advice and hold back from any plans for wider re-opening – Clearly 8 June is too soon! Clearly this information means our members cannot be assured it is safe to move towards a wider re-opening. Please contact us with any concerns (Dave will be picking up and responding to emails and phone calls this weekend).
Notwithstanding the impact of the above news, 12 primary schools in Wirral have failed to share their plans and risk assessments with the unions for consultation, as required to do so by government guidance and health and safety legislation. This is concerning and we will be contacting members in these schools directly to advise them accordingly.
If you work in a school and you are in the clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable category, or you live with someone who is, you have certain protections. You should not be pressed to return to work, certainly not if you have any concerns about the safety. You should be based at home (working at home if possible) but on full pay. Please get in touch if you have any concerns. That
Care Workers
As you will know we have been successful in getting the Council to improve the pay and sick pay of care workers. Sadly we have been met with a stubborn refusal by some providers to actually implement these changes. We have discussed with care workers from a couple of providers about escalating the campaign where they work. We are prepared to name and shame providers if they do not improve the conditions for their staff and out members.
And don’t fall for the myth that’s there’s no money in care. There are many companies doing very well – this article highlights how private equity companies strip their money out of the sector. Hear are some highlights from the report:
- £1.5bn sucked out of sector every year.
- 16% of weekly fee per care home bed is paid to private equity in interest.
- Private care companies spend 15-32% of income on rent, compared to 2% for non-profits.
- UK's largest care provider HC-One has siphoned off over £50m to the Cayman Islands despite asking for extra Govt funding during pandemic.
- Despite declaring a loss every year except one since its creation, HC-one paid dividends of £48.5 million in 2017-2019.
So when they say 'There's no money in social care for a pay rise for care workers'- are they telling the truth?
Wirral Evolutions
We met this week with Wirral Evolutions who have started their planning for the wider reopening of there services. Wirral Unison will be meeting with them on a regular basis to discus the plans and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our members is protected. We have agreed that those staff who are clinically vulnerable etc, will not be returning to the workplace next week and will remain homebased. But please let us know if you have any concerns about the plans At Wirral Evolutions.
Wirral Met College
Similar to Wirral Evolutions we have started to discuss positively with the college, where potentially some students will return for assessments from 22 June. This will be managed carefully to ensure social distancing is in place and safety is paramount. We know that a number of staff will still be based at home but some will be returning to the workplace. As in other settings we now that those who are clinically vulnerable, shielding or who live with someone who is, may be worried. However we will ensure that your safety is the priority – if that’s means you are home based, then you should be. Furlough arrangements, for those affected will be reviewed on a regular basis in consultation with the unions. Again please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.
LGBT+ Month
June is LGBT+ Pride Month, and Wirral Unison will mark this month by highlighting on our Facebook page the important role played by a number of LGBT+ activists in challenging discrimination. The reason why June was chosen to represent LGBT+ Pride is that the Stonewall riots, or uprising took place this month in 1969. Police in New York raided a gay bar, which was a usual occurrence, acting in a violent, intimidatory and discriminatory manner. The difference was that this time the patrons of the bar, the Stonewall Inn; fought back. Led by a black trans women – Marsha P Johnson – they defended themselves. You can read more about it here
These riots, this act of self defence, led to a movement for civil rights and to end discrimination, it was the start of the Gay Pride movement. Many advances have been made over the years, and great strides have been made towards equality, but there is still much to do. Sadly discrimination, abuse and even violent attacks are still not unusual even in Britain. If you want to be more involved in our LGBT+ rights and campaigning activity please drop us a line and we will put you in touch with our Equalities Officer.
Women Who Changed the World Webinar
Part 1 - Sylvia Pankhurst
2nd July 2020 at 12.00pm—12.45pm
This series of webinars focuses on different women throughout his-tory that have worked to improve the world. This first webinar in the series looks at the life of Sylvia Pankhurst, talented artist, leader in the suffragette movement, and committed advocator for the rights of the working class; her fight for equality saw her imprisoned and force fed numerous times in her campaign for women’s right to vote. She went on to gain worldwide recognition as an activist and writer, and became a confidante of Emperor Haile Selassi and a first time mother at 45.
This webinar will explore Sylvia's life and the social and political issues of the day that influenced her through an archive of pictures, adverts and newspaper pages of the time. Sign up here
Well that’s all from us this week! today everyone! Enjoy the weekend, even if you are working, and 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.
In solidarity!
Lois and Dave
Dave: davidnjones@wirral.gov.uk 07880199539
Lois: loisfounds1@wirral.gov.uk 07384512521
Published on: June 8, 2020