Workers’ Memorial Day 28th April 2021 11.30 am Victoria Park Portsmouth
Workers Memorial Day 28th April
A couple of events in March
Climate Strikes: Friday, 13 March
Please visit the Student Climate network page for details of the nearest climate strikes to Portsmouth
CANCELLED: United Nations Anti-Racism Day March: Saturday, 21 March
Just over 2 weeks to the first national mobilisation against Boris Johnson’s racist government!
Portsmouth City UNISON has booked a 61 seat coach for the 21 March Demo in London. It will be
£5 for UNISON Members/Unwaged
£10 for everyone else.
The coach will pick up at the following times and locations, and be back in Portsmouth by around 7.30pm
8.30am – Queen Street Bus Stop (opposite junction with Havant Street), PO1 3HX
8.40am – Students’ Union Bus Stop (opposite Co Op), PO1 2EF
8.50am – Fratton Bridge Bus Stop, PO1 5AB
9.00am – The Fountain pub, North End, PO2 9AA
9.10am – Cosham Health Centre Bus Stop, PO6 3AB
For more details and to book tickets go to March Against Racism – Transport from Portsmouth (Eventbrite)
Coronavirus is a Trade Union Issue
Don’t make workers pay for sickness
Portsmouth Trade Union Council discussed the Coronavirus and the implications for workers when it met on 5 March. Delegates from across the trade union movement in Portsmouth raised the following;
1. The NHS is already in crisis with staff shortages due to years of underfunding. Relatively small numbers of additional cases could push the system into collapse. Government promises to deploy additional NHS staff are unrealistic and fail to take account of the reality of an NHS at breaking point.
2. Government has said any worker who is required to go into self-isolation or quarantine will get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the first day. This is woefully inadequate. 2 million of the lowest paid workers don’t currently have the right to SSP. Some of them will be working in hospitals in cleaning, catering and security roles. These workers are on the breadline and many will continue to work in order to feed their families and pay the bills, putting their colleagues, patients and families at risk.
3. Workers on zero hours contracts, common in fast food outlets, and in sham self-employment, often found in the construction industry, will not get SSP. Again many will not be able to afford to take unpaid time off work.
4. SSP is only £94.25 a week. It is too low and will force many workers into more debt and poverty. Portsmouth Trade Union Council demands that employers pay workers their full wages if they have to take time off work to stop the spread of the virus. The government should reimburse employers for these additional costs.
5. Many employers have absence management policies that penalise and discipline workers for taking more than few days off work due to illness. Employers must make clear these policies do not apply to absence related to the Coronavirus.
6. If schools are closed many parents will have to take time off work. Again these workers must receive full pay and not be penalised for being unable to work.
7. Hygiene facilities in many workplaces are inadequate. Poor washing facilities, which lack hot water and soap, are all too common, even in health and social care settings. Provision of bins to dispose of tissues is often inadequate. Employers in all sectors have legal duty to look after the health and safety of their employees. This includes effective infection controls.
“The fight against Coronavirus is hampered by the crisis in our NHS, years of austerity and public service cuts, the drive to more insecure and low paid employment and a de-regulated health safety culture. While those at the top of society have benefitted, pay and working conditions have fallen behind. Government assurances that they handle the crisis are not convincing. We need government action that will protect workers and help stop the spread of the virus.” Said Jon Woods, Chair of Portsmouth Trade union Council.
https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/tuc-calls-government-tackle-coronavirus-immediate-sickpayforall
Portsmouth Trade Union Council was founded in 1886. It coordinates campaigns across different trade unions and operates as local TUC (Trade Union Congress) for the Portsmouth area.
For more information contact:
Louis Macdonald, Portsmouth Trade Union Council Secretary on 07940 503634 or Jon Woods, Portsmouth Trade Union Council Media Officer on 07921 775828
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