Corona Virus: What can trade unionists do?

Although the trades council, and most union branches will not be meeting at the moment, there is a lot that can be done to support union reps, members and other working people at this time.

The TUC has published detailed guidance for trade unionists on many aspects of the Covid-19 Coronavirus situation- including information for workers on zero-hours contracts.  You can read and download the guidance here.

Other unions have provided guidance specifically tailored to their members.  Unite the Union here; UNISON, here;  GMB here;  RMT here,

PCS have secured assurances that no civil servant will suffer a pay detriment as a result of following government health advice for managing the virus. However, many PCS members and potential members are employed by outsourcers on precarious employment contracts which do not provide them with the same protections as civil servants, and the union is seeking urgent talks with these employers.  More information on this here. 

Shop Workers' union USDAW has hundreds of thousands of workers on the front line, and sadly, many of those have faced abuse and threatening behaviour in recent days.  Labour and Co-operative MP Alex Norris brought foreard a Bill last Monday to legislate for additional protection for frontline retail staff- read about it here.

The creative industries will be hit hard: many arts companies will not survive without external support, and many Equity members will face hardship- especially those working on a gig-by-gig basis.  Detailed advice and support from Equity can be accessed here.

Megaphone.org.uk are hosting a petition to call for increased sick pay, and its extension to all workers, including the self-employed.  At just £94.25 a week, statutory sick pay in the UK isn't enough to live on - and 2 million people don't earn enough to qualify.  Click here to sign and share the petition.

Change.org has an equally important petition, highlighting the absurdity of the fact that NHS frontline staff are not being tested for Corvid-19.   The petition's author, hospital doctor Rebecca McCauley states that she has set up the petition "for prioritisation of testing for NHS staff... so that those who need to stay away do so, with a clear conscience, and those who can work can do so, with a clear conscience!"   Sign the petition here: