Dear Member
 
Hi there everyone! We hope you’re having a good week so far. We are also hopeful that our regular email updates continue to be useful to you as this crisis continues to effect our lives both in and out of work.

Long Covid or Post Covid Syndrome

Members may have heard in the media recently about something medical professionals are referring to as ‘Long Covid’. A recent survey found that, a third of doctors have treated patients with long term covid-19 symptoms, including chronic fatigue and anosmia.

Richard Vautrey, chair of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) GP committee for England, said it was clear that the long term impact of covid-19 on patients and the NHS would be profound. An online survey of doctors conducted by the BMA between 6 and 12 August received 4279 responses. Of the 3729 doctors who answered a question about patients’ symptoms, around a third said that they had seen or treated patients with symptoms they believed to be a long term effect of the patient having had covid-19. The symptoms reported in this survey included chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and achy joints, a persistent loss of sense of smell (anosmia), and concentration difficulties or brain fog. Other clinicians have also reported patients suffering from a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, and damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.

Whilst some of these symptoms might be so severe as to prevent people from returning to work after having Corona virus for others it will be a matter of managing symptoms alongside working. This emerging picture is clearly of concern for Wirral Unison and we are committed to ensuring that any of our members who are suffering with the long term impacts of Covid-19 are treated fairly and sympathetically by their employer. If you have had Corona virus and are suffering with lasting symptoms you should talk to your manager about adjustments they can put in place to help you to manage these symptoms alongside work.

If you can work from home you should continue to do so but it might also be necessary to talk to your employer about adjustments that would help you, such as shorter days and longer or more frequent breaks. If you are unbale to work from home your employer should be doing all they can to ensure a successful and safe return to work. This might include a longer phased return to the workplace than they might usually offer, featuring shorter working days and additional breaks throughout the day to enable you to manage your symptoms. Other adjustments might be required, such as access to somewhere to sit down, a quiet space away from others, easy access to fresh air amongst others.

If you are suffering with lasting symptoms it is really important that you talk to your employer about those symptoms so that they can make the adjustments you need. If you have any concerns as always, please do not hesitate to contact us.

School Risk Assessments
 
The return of children and young people to school in September is fast approaching and we are continuing to scrutinise a number of risk assessments to ensure that our members, your colleagues and the young people you support are safe. We have recently written to all school leaders in Wirral posing a series of questions in relation to opening in September, most notably focused on cleaning provision, infection control and individual risk assessments.
 
If you have any queries abut your school’s plans for September, please do contact us at your earliest opportunity.
 
Pay offer 2020 updates 

NJC- Council and school staff
We reported to members last week that the outcome in Wirral of the consultation on the 2020 pay offer was Reject 84% Accept 16% on a 39% turnout. We have reported these figures to the North West Region as have others in the area and delegates in Local Government from around the region will meet to discuss the North West results later in the week.

We will keep you updated through these emails as to the progress on the pay offer.

JNC- Youth and Community Workers
We remind our youth and community work members that you should, by now have received your ballot paper to vote on the 2020 pay offer.

Wirral Branch Stewards have discussed the Pay Offer of 2.75%. We recommend REJECT.

If you have not yet done so, please vote in this consultative ballot. If you have not received a ballot paper, please get in touch and we will ensure that you get one. The consultative ballot will close on Monday 7 September.

Webinar for Black LGBT+ members

Due to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, the 2020 UNISON Black LGBT+ members’ network meeting, will still take place on Thursday 10^th September but as a webinar.
All UNISON Black LGBT+ members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Joining details for the webinar will only be sent to those who have registered to attend in advance. If you would like to register to attend the webinar please email out@unison.co.uk  with your name and UNISON membership number.
The draft agenda is below. A final agenda will be sent with the joining details.

• Welcome
• Update on LGBT+ conference
• Work of the caucus
• Guest Speakers:

Margaret Greer – UNISON National officer, race equality
Dave Merchant – describes the Black Trans Lives Matter campaign

• Questions (you can submit these via out@unison.co.uk before the meeting, or during the meeting)

Webinar for disabled LGBT+ members

Due to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, the 2020 UNISON disabled LGBT+ members’ network meeting will still take place on Thursday 10^th September but as a webinar.
All UNISON disabled LGBT+ members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Joining details for the webinar will only be sent to those who have registered to attend in advance. If you would like to register to attend the webinar please email out@unison.co.uk with your name and UNISON membership number.
The draft agenda is below. A final agenda will be sent with the joining details.
 

• Welcome
• Update on LGBT+ conference
• Work of the caucus
• Guest Speakers:
  Deirdre Costigan, UNISON national officer – disability equality
  Dave Merchant – describes the Black Trans Lives Matter campaign
• Questions (you can submit these via out@unison.co.uk before the meeting, or during the meeting

That’s all for today everyone. As always, please feel free to pass our updates on to colleagues and encourage them to join Unison if they haven’t already. Here’s the link to join up! JOIN UNISON

Enjoy your evening and we will be back in touch with further updates soon.

In solidarity!

Lois and Dave

Branch Office: 0151 666 3040
Central email: unison1@wirral.gov.uk