Branch campaigns
Barnet UNISON as part of our Know Your Rights at Work campaign are hosting a
ZOOM meeting with NEU and GMB entitled:
Guest Speaker: Janet Newsham, Chair Hazards Campaign, sitting member of Employment Tribunal for past 25 years.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82640214991?pwd=cW01ZzhtTTJoeStjNWVVcGJSaEhqQT09
Meeting ID: 826 4021 4991
Password: 363400
Dear head teacher/chair of governors
Government’s plans to increase number of pupils in schools from 1 June
I am writing to say how worried I am about the government’s plans to increase the numbers of pupils in some schools from 1 June and the potential threat they pose to the health and safety of pupils, parents and staff in our school community.
We all want to see schools up and running and our school community back together again, but only when it is safe to do so. Any plan to achieve this needs to be clear on issues such as social distancing, PPE, testing, tracing and isolation. The current government guidance is not.
My union, UNISON, is taking these issues up with government, calling on it to step back from an unsafe increase in pupil numbers on 1 June. Unions and the government need to work together to create the conditions for a safe return to schools, based on the principles and tests set out by education unions representing support staff, teachers and head teachers (see TUC statement).
I don’t believe that the current situation is the fault of the school or its leadership and I understand that the school has to plan for all eventualities. Therefore, my union has advised me to request that you urgently provide an update on the following issues:
I think it is really important that we all stand together to ensure that everyone in the school and community is safe and that we meet health and safety laws. This means that we should only open up the school when is it safe to do so. My union and I do not believe that this is possible by 1 June.
Finally I would like it to be formally noted that my involvement in any meetings and discussions will be on the basis of a sharing of information only, and not my agreement to an unsafe reopening from 1 June. I would further request that you enter into collective discussion with my union on the measures that need to be taken for a safe increase in pupil numbers, as stated by the DfE. I call on the school not to put pupils and staff at risk with an unsafe increase in numbers from 1 June.
Yours sincerely
Please read this checklist any questions email:
2020.05.18. Joint Trade Union Coronavirus Workplace checklist
“How To Reopen Schools Safely”
Speakers: Jon Richards (UNISON), Kevin Courtney (Joint General Secretary NEU) GMLB speaker to be confirmed, NASUWT speaker to be confirmed
Joining details
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86557588815?pwd=WEZGaVVkaks2ZTI5SFppTHNzL04wdz09
Meeting ID: 865 5758 8815
Password: 328320
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81754931410?pwd=UGRYVmlJVC9TbVF5eTFDVFhXVGJBZz09
Meeting ID: 817 5493 1410
Password: 750011
Barnet UNISON has submitted the following report which sets out our list of demands for full Trade Union engagement in the transition from Lockdown.
“It is really important at this time that workers trust that their employer ensures the workplace is safe. COVID 19 has brought risks to our members’ lives in a way many of our members have never faced before. Therefore, it is important not just to say the workplace is safe, BUT to demonstrate that is safe by being transparent and open and ensuring risk assessments for every work place are easily available for the workforce to read. On Tuesday 5 May 2020, we submitted our report to Barnet Council Chief Executive as the first step to work to ensure all our members are safe at work. We will report back on the negotiations over the coming days and weeks.” (John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON)
Some of our proposals set out in the report are:
1. The Council to inform and consult with the Trade Unions in a full and timely manner on the transition from Lockdown. By engaging with the Trade Unions the Council can receive our support in the process, and help build workforce support for changed ways of working such as working from home, social distancing measures and deployment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
2. The Council to ensure that protective measures are in place for workers most vulnerable to Covid-19, pregnant women, new mothers and employees sharing households with people requiring shielding.
3. Covid-19 Risk Assessments to be in place relating to specific worksites and work tasks. The Council should consult and obtain agreement with the Trade Unions on these Risk Assessments. No worksites or tasks to be engaged until such Risk Assessments are in place following agreement with the Trade Unions. Risk Assessments to be accessible to all Council employees.
4. Increased stringency and frequency of cleaning of workplaces and equipment during the transition from Lockdown.
5. Social distancing to be in place at work sites, with clear guidance given to workers. Buildings should not be open to the public without strict and enforceable social distancing measures in place, following consultation and agreement with the Trade Unions.
6. To reduce the risk of infection the Council should consider and implement changes to the layout of workplaces, adjusting working patterns, alternating sections of the workforce on sites, and staggering travelling times. The Trade Unions to be consulted with on any such changes.
7. In line with Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 the Council will not submit any worker refusing to work in an unsafe workplace to Disciplinary or other punitive measures. It recognises workers have the right to withdraw from and refuse to return to an unsafe workplace, and that they have legal protection from dismissal, disciplinary or any other detriment for raising a health and safety issue.
8. PPE must be provided where necessary, and no-one should be asked to re-use PPE inappropriately.
9. Employees to receive instruction on the safe use, maintenance and cleaning of PPE as necessary.
10. Equalities Impact Assessments to be in place for the transition from Lockdown. Across the UK Black and Ethnic Minority workers have suffered disproportionate harm from the impact of the virus. The Council must seek to prevent this disproportionate impact and comply with its public sector equality duty.
11. The Council to inform workers about the availability and criteria of Covid-19 testing and to support workers in obtaining such testing when criteria are met.
Click on link below to read the UNISON report.
1. The guidance restates the DfE‟s blanket line that scientific evidence “indicates” that school staff do not need PPE – what exactly is the scientific evidence which the DfE referring to? Will they publish this scientific evidence in full?
2. Risk assessments should be carried out for staff as well as for pupils. Local unions and health and safety representatives can add help and expertise to this process and should be fully involved.
3. The onus of the guidance unreasonably places pressure and the risk onto members of staff.
4. It will be impossible to provide the care that some children and young people need without close hands-on contact. Risk assessments need to be carried out and the appropriate PPE supplied in these circumstances.
5. The guidance states PPE is only needed in residential care if pupils develop symptoms. No account is taken of the hazards faced by school staff in terms of spitting, scratching or biting, exposure to other bodily fluids or when performing clinical procedures.
6. There is no reference to the safe disposal of waste or PPE including masks and gloves.
7. The guidance rightly highlights the paramount necessity of strict hygiene, but does not mention soap or the provision of hand sanitiser. UNISON members have raised concerns about lack of soap and having to bring their own sanitiser to work. UNISON has already raised concerns with the DfE over previous guidance suggesting some cleaning items may be rationed.
8. There is no recognition of the complexity of the issues being faced by schools with vulnerable young people – for instance what about the risk of children attending who live in crowded accommodation either in a hostel, B&B or where a large family are sharing?
9. The guidance recognises that classes should be kept to small sizes but there is no definition of what a small size is. What happens if there is an outbreak and it leads to staff absences? For pupils with SEND there may be a one to one ratio. It is common practice in SEND settings to have 8-10 students to a ratio of 5 staff.
10. The guidance recommends that soft or cuddly toys are not to be shared by students – how is this to be managed in a SEND or early years environment?
11. Social distancing is impossible to fully maintain in schools. There is no reference to the built environments that schools work in. Some schools are small with narrow corridors and passage ways.
12. Any redeployment of staff across special schools will be unsettling for the pupils who are familiar with individual teachers/teaching assistants/ learning support assistants. It could also add to the risk of spreading the virus.
Recommendation UNISON recommends that the Government’s advice is urgently revised to take full account of the needs of pupils and staff, including realistic expectations of what is achievable. It should also take into account the duty of care that the DfE and schools have to their pupils, staff and the communities in which they operate. Ofsted have identified sufficient risk to issue their inspectors with PPE in order to safely undertake emergency inspections. PPE is vital for staff who are working on the front line – without the undertaking of risk assessments for staff and the appropriate provision of PPE then some schools could be unsafe for staff, pupils and the wider community.
To read full statement click on link below
2020.04.21. UNISON-response-to-DfE-guidance-on-SEND-risk-assessment
How to download Zoom: Zoom can be accessed by computer, tablet, or smart phone.
To access Zoom via smartphone or tablet, open the AppStore (Apple) or the Play Store (Android), search “Zoom Cloud Meetings”, select and install.
To access Zoom via computer, follow the link below and download the “Zoom Client for meetings” https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting
How to join a meeting:
Open Zoom using your chosen electronic device. You should be given three options – join a meeting, sign up, or sign in.
You may wish to sign up, but you do not have to sign up to join the meeting.
Select “Join a meeting”, enter the “Meeting ID”. This should have already been provided to you. Alternatively, if you have been provided with a link, select this link and you should be automatically directed to the meeting.
If the meeting requires a password you should have been provided with this already.
How to change your name: We would like you to display your name so we can identify people properly.
On a phone, tap the screen, select “Participants”, select yourself (at the top of the list), select rename.
On a computer, hover over the main video/audio display area, select “Participants”, hover over yourself (at the top of the screen), select rename.
If you want to speak: You will need to raise your virtual hand. I will then select people in turn to speak. When it is your turn, I will unmute you.
On a phone, please tap your screen, select “More”, and select “Raise Hand”
On a computer, hover over the main display area, select “Participants”, at the bottom of the participants list there should be a “Raise Hand” button, select this button.
If you are hosting the meeting, ask people to practice putting their hands up here. Pause the meeting to ensure everybody knows how to use this feature.
Using the chatroom: Members can type messages to each other during the meeting using the “Chat” feature. You may wish to use this to ask questions.
On a phone, tap your screen, select “Participants”, select “Chats” in bottom left hand corner.
On a computer, hover over the main display area, select “Chats”.
Making decisions: If we need to take votes on decisions during the meeting, you will be asked to vote by raising your virtual hand. Votes will be taken by simple majority. See above “If you want to speak” for how to raise your virtual hand.
Barnet UNISON Branch ZOOM meeting “COVID19: Your Health and Safety Rights at Work”
After five weeks of lockdown and ongoing media speculation about when lockdown will end Barnet UNISON has secured Simon Hester former Health and Safety Executive Inspector as our Guest Speaker for our first ZOOM Branch Meeting on Wednesday 6 May at 6pm.
To join the Barnet UNISON Zoom meeting click on the link below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88063991632?pwd=MjRnbUErVVp0MEsxNDFubWtRUzd6QT09
Meeting ID: 880 6399 1632
Password: 147747
