Category: News
Non UNISON news
Care Workers in London Borough of Barnet Please read
If you are a care worker in Barnet please please click on the link below for details of the type of PPE you should be wearing in your workplace.
Priorities for PPE Allocation (v7)
OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19 IN CARE HOMES: INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES
Barnet UNISON has received a large number of concerns from careworkers who, now, like NHS staff are caring for individuals who have become infected with Coronavirus.
All care settings MUST comply with the advice set out by Public Health England. Please contact us if you are working in a setting where these minimal standards are not being adhered to.
Contact us on 0208 359 2088 (leave a message)
or email us at
contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
if you have any further concerns.
“Droplet precautions, isolation and personal protective equipment (PPE):
- Care homes are not expected to have dedicated isolation facilities for people living in the home.
- Isolation precautions should be implemented in the same way care homes operate for influenza.
- A resident’s own room can be used if isolation is needed, ideally a single bedroom with en-suite.
- If this is not possible, discuss the option of cohorting with your local PHE health protection team.
Staff should use PPE for close personal contact with a symptomatic resident or bodily fluids.
- Aprons, gloves and fluid repellent surgical masks should be used in these situations.
- If there is a risk of splashing, then eye protection will minimise risk.
- New PPE must be used for each episode of care.
- On leaving the resident’s room, PPE should be removed, and hand hygiene performed immediately, as per standard infection control precautions.
- Isolation may end after 7 days from illness onset, so long as the case feels better and has no fever.”
Read full guidance by click link below.
Barnet UNISON Pays Tribute to The Little Chief, Susan Sullivan
We have sad news to communicate with our Barnet UNISON community.
Susan Sullivan has become the first fatal victim of the Coronavirus we know of in our community.
She wasn’t a member of Barnet UNISON but she made her contribution and she made it count. She was one of two people who put their names to efforts to bring a judicial review against the Council for bringing the disastrous Capita into our services.
Susan had a learning disability and was a user of Barnet Council services so understood the value of the services provided by many of our members. This was what she sought to defend. She valued us.
We came to value her as she appeared on a number of demonstrations and took part in occasional meetings. Of course she did so with the full support of her parents, John and Ida. They have all been valuable members of our campaigns which saw John publicly speaking out in solidarity with our striking YCB colleagues on a number of occasions including the House of Commons.
We often heard John refer to his daughter as “Little Chief”. We cannot thank them enough for their comradeship and solidarity.
Our thoughts are very much with them in their grief and now worry about the potential progress of this virus within their family.
R.I.P Susan Sullivan “Little Chief”.
Three workers in the Dust truck is not safe
The threat of COVID 19 both real and perceived is growing stronger every day especially amongst front line workers who are being asked to carry on a deliver services as normal.
But these are not normal times. We are in a global pandemic which is sweeping across the globe, some countries faster than others.
The response from workers in public services is incredible people are offering support to other services which are under serious pressure.
Once such service that needs to continue otherwise there will be another type of public health risk is the Waste and Recycling Service.
There can sometimes be 3 or 4 workers sitting inside a vehicle a clear contravention of the government advice on social distancing.
Earlier this week Barnet UNISON wrote to Barnet Council requesting urgent measures to be put in place to safeguard our member’s health and safety.
Our demands are as follows:
1. Cleaning regime.
The inside of the vehicles are subjected to thorough cleansing regime each day.
That Hand gel is provided for each team every day. Please note there are no toilets available for these staff to use therefore no access to water and soap.
Cleansing wipes to be provided to each team every day.
Gloves and masks to be provided to each team every day.
Provision of toilet facilities for the workforce
Procedure to change how they currently work to reflect government advice about social distancing.
2. Bonus/recognition payment
Workers have asked that the Council pay a bonus to the reflect the recognition of the work they are currently providing under difficult circumstances.
3. Mental Health
To increase awareness of counselling support for staff working on the frontline during this national crisis.
4. Food and supplies
It is well documented that access to supermarkets is proving problematic and for the key workers it will more difficult for them to access supermarkets as they are working. Barnet UNISON has asked Barnet Council look to secure means by which food and supplies can be provided on an order basis for key workers.
***** Barnet Council have responded see below:
Cleansing
Hand sanitiser gel has been issued to the crews and drivers have a supply of hand wipes for them and the crew to use. Drivers can request more from the Supervisors once their supply has gone. Drivers are also being issued with cleansing wipes so that they are able to wipe down surfaces, handles and steering wheels in the cab. We have also progressed arrangements to implement a cleansing regime for vehicle cabs. Nitril gloves are currently also available on request for those who may wish to use them.
We have sourced resource that will be undertaking a deep cleanse of the RCV cabs on Saturday this week. Following this, we will have a team of four people working from Monday to clean the vehicle cabs. RCV’s will be cleaned on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and Street Cleansing vehicles will be cleaned on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Payment.
No bonus payment will be paid to key workers.
Mental Health
Mental Health First Aiders to be made available for staff to contact and discuss their issues.
Food and Supplies
No.
End.
Housing Restructure Update
Dear member,
I hope you and all your loved ones are well.
See attached or below.
This is the latest update from management in regard to the ongoing Consultation in Leasehold, Neighbourhood, Rental Income and Customer Contact Centre.
I have not been able to consult with you on these proposals or call a meeting with you to discuss whether these proposals change the position agreed upon the last time we met on the 11 March 2020.
The position then was for a dispute to be lodged at JNCC and thereafter enable an indicative ballot of members effected by as to what industrial action you are prepared to take.
Obviously the Corona Virus has markedly changed priorities.
The next scheduled JNCC is on the 3 April 2020 – so given that management have moved their position, put some further risk mitigating measures in place and moved the interview dates for ‘at risk’ staff to the 1st of June
Should UNISON lodge the dispute?
Or wait and continue further dialogue?
Please reply to this email and indicate either 1 or 2.
- LODGE DISPUTE NOW
- DO NOT LODGE AT THIS TIME
Let me know your thoughts –
In solidarity
Stay safe
Patrick Hunter
UNISON Convenor for The Barnet Group
Barnet UNISON seek Hazard Payment for frontline workers
TESCOs announced a few days ago that they are giving frontline staff a 10% bonus to recognise their invaluable effort to help feed the nation.
The majority of key workers being asked to go into work and face the risks of contracting COVID 19 are often the lowest paid workers such as:
- Care workers
- Cleaners
- Street Scene workers, Bin workers, street cleansing, drivers etc.
- School Support staff
In recognition of the risks they are taking every day whilst having to cope with the stress and anxiety of trying to cope at home with all the restrictions COVID 19 is bringing into their lives, Barnet UNISON has taken the following action:
Barnet UNISON have formally requested Barnet Council to adopt a similar bonus payment for key workers for the duration of this crisis.
The Council are considering our request.
Watch this space…………..
Barnet UNISON statement:
Please let the branch know what is going on with your employer by emailing
contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
You can keep up to date with Barnet UNISON here on our
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UNISON in relation to Coronavirus, all workplaces including schools.
Dear Member
I thought I would share the latest update from UNISON in relation to Coronavirus, all workplaces including schools.
“What is UNISON nationally is doing now?
We are seeking to work with national government, local government and education employers to draw up additional guidance. We have raised a range of issues with them including:
- Which workers we believe should be defined as essential staff and have access to education facilities;
- Closures and full pay – the need for reassurance around full pay for all staff including contractors (catering, cleaning etc), agency staff and sessional workers;
- Health and safety – need for risk assessments, protective equipment, schools fully stocked with all necessary cleaning products and testing;
- Postponement of redundancies/restructures/TUPE transfers/ disciplinary hearings etc during this period;
- Joint working with unions and employers locally and nationally to help schools and pupils and staff through crisis with employers and unions recognising the need for flexibility. Asking for volunteers first when employers are seeking to re-deploy staff;”
More details here.
https://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/education-services/key-issues/covid-19-closures/
I have submitted the above to Barnet Council and requested that I need a response which I can share to all of our members.
Please note:
If you have any questions please email
contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Breaking News: ISS will be pay full pay to their Barnet Catering staff if off sick with Coronavirus
At a union meeting last week ISS issued a statement in relation to sickness absence and Coronavirus.
Barnet UNISON who had raised the issued with Barnet Council a few weeks ago welcomes the news that ISS the contractor which provides catering services in Barnet Schools will pay full pay if any worker has to self-isolate or are displaying symptoms of the Coronavirus.
“This is sensible pragmatic news and provides some confidence that the Council and ISS recognise the need to ensure the spread of the virus is limited. ISS do not pay company sick pay. There was a real risk that staff would come into work even if they had symptoms, simply because they can’t afford to lose money. The same must be applied to the Corporate Cleaning contractor who provide services in Council office and schools.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON
Barnet UNISON submission to Barnet Council about #Coronavirus
Dear Barnet UNISON members
The follow proposals have been submitted to Barnet Council today.
The following applies to all Barnet Council workers (Barnet Council workers includes all staff working in Barnet Community Schools.) during the period of the current #Coronavirus Pandemic.
• All sickness absence monitoring to cease.
• Full sick pay to be paid to all staff regardless of length of service or where their entitlement has reduced or expired.
• No reduction in pay for staff who are self-isolating or caring for someone who is at risk.
• No reduction in pay for any worker having to take time away to look after their children.
• No redundancy consultations.
• All restructures to go on hold.
• Disciplinaries where no risk to life and limb or others to be postponed.
• All other grievances/disciplinaries/capabilities/and Appeals to only go ahead on a case by case basis in agreement with the trade unions.
• For those workers who would be considered to be vulnerable to Coronavirus e.g. workers over 60 and those with underlying health conditions are to be allowed to self-isolate and/or work from home if they so wish.
• Barnet Council to seek information from their workforce as to what skills, expertise they can volunteer in order to assist the Council to be able to redirect resources to socially useful activities and offer training.
• Any worker volunteering to work at a higher grade will be paid at that rate.
• No worker will suffer a financial detriment from volunteering.
• Communication to go out on a daily basis giving clear guidance about what the Council is doing across all services. This communication should go out in a number of formats e.g. Email, flyers, Council website (not just intranet). This communication will be done in such a way as to demonstrate we understand the workforce will be the ones passing on information about the Council’s response and can play a useful role in carrying out and reinforcing these messages.
• Business continuity meetings to include representatives from the trade unions.
• Urgent reviews/risk assessments to be carried out with the involvement and collaboration of all staff to determine what work must be done and what can be done differently or postponed in order to reduce unneccesary contact with public e.g. telephone assessments instead of face to face meetings.
• Provision of counselling services for all staff to be promoted in all future communication in order to look after the mental wellbeing of the workforce
• To ensure adequate supplies for handwashing is provided for mobile workers.
• End hot desking.
• Where possible allow workers to vary working hours to reduce risk of infection on congested public transport.
• Bring the outsourced cleaning services back in-house.
Contractors
Barnet Council to seek confirmation from all contractors whose staff work alongside Barnet Council workers that they are also providing full pay for their staff who are off sick or self-isolating or needing to look after children.
Agency
Barnet Council to seek confirmation from all agency organisations supplying staff to work alongside Barnet Council workers that they are also providing full pay for their staff who are off sick or self-isolating or needing to look after children.