Category Archives: News

2020, 2020 UK, News, Resources

Britain: 10 things you can do now to organise on coronavirus at work | TUC

TUC briefing

  1. Unionise

If you haven’t already, join a union. If you’ve already joined, organise. If that means in isolation, so be it – invite colleagues to a video call or WhatsApp group. Regardless of how big your union is, or whether it’s recognised or not, you should be having union meetings about coronavirus. Whether it’s redundancy, pay or PPE, every single worker has something to negotiate right now.

  1. Audit your contract

Check your contracts and staff handbooks for relevant clauses to clarify your rights and responsibilities. You may have questions around working from home, the sickness management policy, maternity rights and other entitlements, so carry out an audit of yours and your colleagues contracts to see where you stand. Make sure you’re including any agency workers in that as they may have very different terms and conditions.

If you think your employer is breaching your contract, or if they are asking you to go in when it is against government or medical advice, contact your union’s legal teams now.

  1. Demand to be consulted

If your bosses are drawing up policies around the response to coronavirus, make sure they’re speaking to the union. Employers have a legal duty to consult established health and safety reps and committee, and reps have the right to play an active role in risk assessments.

  1. Fight for 100%

Across the country, ‘furloughed’ workers on the government’s Jobs Retention Scheme are going to be faced with the possibility of a 20% cut in pay unless their employer agrees to top up the government’s wage subsidy. Other workers affected by school closures are faced with unpaid parental leave as they take time to care for their kids. This is a huge battle and unions are playing a major role in negotiating in workplaces.
– Watch our webinar on wage subsidy.
– Read our blog What are the rules if you’re temporarily laid off?

  1. Shame bad bosses

Employers cutting pay, laying people off, or opening their workplace without the necessary distancing or hygiene measures need to be called out. For especially hostile bosses, public pressure from the outside can support union organising on the inside. Campaigns like #BoycottWetherspoons ran by BFAWU members or #ShutTheSites by Unite activists can threaten the reputational damage of businesses and force a U-turn.
–  If you have concerns about how your employer is responding to coronavirus, please tell us.

  1. Demand Safety

Bosses need to take seriously the calls for distancing, cleanliness and hygiene. The law is clear on the welfare provisions you should have access to. We need sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing to front-line workers – especially health and social care. More people will die if this call is not met. We need the government to urgently issue scientific advice on PPE to all key workers, direct enforcement agencies to take appropriate action – and to ensure those who flout to law are penalised. Read our blog Bosses who fail to protect their workers must pay the penalty.

If you are working from home, you still need to think about safe working conditions. Repetitive strain injury is a serious workplace hazard, and unions should demand no worker is out of pocket from purchasing equipment to support their posture etc.

  1. Support retired members

Many trade union members already been involved in setting up and supporting mutual aid groups which demonstrate the strength and solidarity of our movement. Many unions have retired members branches, whose members may not be as plugged in to online channels but may well fall into the more vulnerable category. Reach out to branches and ask what kind of work your union members can be doing to bring support to them.

  1. Keep in touch

It’s important to maintain lines of communication both with management and with each other. At a time when many of us are working in isolation, it’s easier for bosses to play divide and rule. Guard against it and keep in touch regularly, reporting any new developments. For your own mental health, too, maintaining a network of colleagues who you can check in with will help bring some familiarity to your day.

  1. Take action

We may not be able to hold protests and rallies at the moment, but workers can still take action. Last Friday saw one union branch walk off the job over safety concerns as bosses refused to close the non-essential workplace. In Ireland nearly 1,000 union members walked off a food production site protesting the lack of safety measures. Whether it be an open letter, petition or downing of tools, your union will be able to advise you on the best way to take, and to escalate, action.

  1. Remember them

As the coronavirus crisis carries on, people are dying. Every day. Many of those around the world losing their lives to this virus are the workers on the front-line in health, education, transport, retail and other sectors.

This month is International Workers’ Memorial Day- marked every year on April 28th. Put the date in your diary and sign up to TUC mailing (sign up in the footer below) to be involved in our online memorial. While we mourn those who have passed, we mobilise to ensure not another life is lost to work.

Protecting workers’ safety in the coronavirus pandemic, TUC report, 3 April 2020.

Shelly Asquith
TUC health and safety policy officer

2020, 2020 Global, News, Resources

Gedenktag für die Opfer von Arbeitsunfällen: DIE PANDEMIE BEI DER ARBEIT STOPPEN – Internationaler Gewerkschaftsbund

Arbeitsunfällen: DIE PANDEMIE BEI DER ARBEIT STOPPEN

Der 28. April ist der Internationale Gedenktag für die Opfer von Arbeitsunfällen (International Workers’ Memorial Day), an dem wir derer gedenken und für die eintreten, die bei der Arbeit ums Leben gekommen sind, sich eine Behinderung, Verletzung oder sonstige Beeinträchtigung zugezogen haben.

30-03-2020

Im Fokus steht in diesem Jahr selbstverständlich die globale Covid-19-Pandemie. Von der Krise sind zwar alle betroffen, aber Arbeitnehmer*innen stehen an vorderster Front.

“Vor allem die Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen riskieren ihr eigenes Leben, wenn sie zur Arbeit gehen, um die Kranken zu versorgen. Zudem arbeiten Menschen in Senioren- und anderen Einrichtungen, die sich um die schwächsten Gruppen in unserer Gesellschaft kümmern. Darüber hinaus brauchen wir Beschäftigte im Verkehrswesen und in Supermärkten sowie die Erbringer wesentlicher Dienstleistungen und viele andere, um die Wirtschaft aufrechtzuerhalten. Diesen Arbeitnehmer*innen sollten wir ebenfalls danken, denn wenn wir kein Essen kaufen können, können wir unsere Familie nicht versorgen und sicherstellen, dass sie gesund bleibt”, erklärt IGB-Generalsekretärin Sharan Burrow.

Der Internationale Gedenktag 2020 steht im Zeichen der Unterstützung all dieser mutigen Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer und der Erinnerung an die Menschen, die bei der Arbeit verstorben, erkrankt oder verunglückt sind.

Social Distancing und Ausgangsbeschränkungen werden aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach zur Folge haben, dass Zusammenkünfte und Veranstaltungen nicht möglich sind.

Hier ein paar Vorschläge für Aktivitäten und dazu, wie Ihr Eure Botschaft verbreiten könnt:

Solidarität in Aktion: Die Pandemie bei der Arbeit stoppen
Die überwältigende Mehrheit der Gewerkschaftsaktivitäten am 28. April wird virtueller Art sein, und Eure Fotos werden die Stärke, die Solidarität und das Engagement von Gewerkschaftsmitgliedern überall für Sicherheit am Arbeitsplatz symbolisieren.

Teilt Eure Fotos oder 30-Sekunden-Videos in den sozialen Netzwerken (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram) mit dem Hashtag #iwmd20 oder schickt sie per E-Mail an editor@hazards.org.

Arbeitnehmer*innen an vorderster Front, die ‘Leben retten – Gesund bleiben‘: Schickt ein Foto in Eurer Schutzkleidung oder davon, wie an Eurem Arbeitsplatz ein Sicherheitsabstand eingehalten wird, um ‘Die Pandemie bei der Arbeit zu stoppen’.

Nachricht für die sozialen Medien (Beispiel):
Teil des Teams, das Leben rettet und gesund bleibt am #iwmd20
Zusammen können wir #StopthePandemicAtWork

Alle Arbeitnehmer*innen, um Eure Solidarität zu bekunden und ‘Die Pandemie bei der Arbeit zu stoppen’: Schickt ein Foto von einer Kerze, die Ihr zu Hause oder am Arbeitsplatz aus Solidarität mit den Beschäftigten an vorderster Front anzündet, ohne die unser Leben nicht möglich wäre.

Nachricht für die sozialen Medien (Beispiel):
Ein Hoch auf all diejenigen, die arbeiten für #StopthePandemicAtWork
Danke allen Arbeitnehmer*innen an vorderster Front am #iwmd20

Gewerkschaftsvertreter*innen: Haltet ein Schild hoch mit einer Liste von Unterstützungsmaßnahmen, die Ihr ausgehandelt habt, um ‘Die Pandemie bei der Arbeit zu stoppen’.

Nachricht für die sozialen Medien (Beispiel):
Gewerkschaften in Aktion #StopthePandemicAtWork
Kämpfen für:
Lohnfortzahlung im Krankheitsfall
Sichere Arbeitsplätze
Arbeitsplatzgarantien
#iwmd20

https://www.ituc-csi.org/28April2020-DE

2020, 2020 Asia, Events listing, News

Asia: Anroev plans 28 April commemoration of COVID 19 Victims

Announcement from the ANROEV Secretariat, 2 April 2020

The Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims is  scheduled to do a formal attribute to all the victims of COVID 19 who have sacrifices their lives, on the  occasion of International Workers Memorial Day 2020 ( 28 April 2020) with the theme of ” Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living.”

The ANROEV secretariat aims to collect names of workers and other front liners against the pandemic who have died fighting COVID-19. The compilation of names and information of those who died will be published as a public tribute during the IWMD 2020 commemoration on 28 April 2020.

Additionally, ANROEV members are encouraged to have their own memorial and tribute at the national level.

Ram Charitra Sah
Coordinator | ANROEV
ANROEV  Secretariat
C/O- Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED)
Mahalaxmi Municipality, Ward No.2, Lalitpur ,
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel/Fax: +977-1-5201786
Mob: +977-9803047621
www.anroev.org

2020, 2020 Global, News, Resources

Global: Stop the pandemic at work

In response to the worldwide coronavirus crisis, the global union confederation ITUC has announced unions are to make ‘Stop the pandemic at work’ a major campaign focus. The union has produced a series of posters and resources to kick off the campaign, which will build to a day of ‘virtual’ action on 28 April 2020, International Workers’ Memorial Day. ITUC says while everyone is affected by the crisis, workers are on the frontline.

ITUC news release. ITUC/Hazards 28 April website, including news on activities and resources. ITUC/Hazards coronavirus resource hub. ITUC Covid-19 resource pages – news, resources and publications from ITUC affiliates, Global Union Federations and LabourStart. Risks 941. 4 April 2020

2020, 2020 USA, Events listing, News

USA: Worker health is public health

In the Covid-19 pandemic, worker health is public health – but worker safety and health is in crisis, a top US safety law expert has said. Debbie Berkowitz of the National Employment Law Project (NELP) said the US federal government “is failing to ensure the safety and health of workers – including those most at risk, health care workers. The government has also abandoned its role in keeping all other essential workers safe – those in supermarkets, delivery, warehouses, factories, public transportation and sanitation.”

But she added: “As the federal government walks away from its responsibility to protect workers in this crisis, unions and worker activism are helping to fill the vacuum.” Berkowitz noted that dangerous shortages of protective gear were being compounded by a lack of official oversight of working conditions. She criticised the lack of action by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “the government agency responsible for protecting worker’s health and safety on the job. In a sharp departure from previous pandemics and crises, OSHA is not conducting any Covid-19 enforcement—even for health care workers at risk.

This kind of ‘dereliction’ is unprecedented, she wrote, adding: “It’s the unions and an amazing exercise of worker power and activism that have come to the rescue.” The safety law expert concluded: “It is stunning for most of us to realise the weakness of the legal protections for worker safety and health. It is amazing to see the incredible efforts of the unions and rank and file workers – both unorganised and organised – to stand up and demand protections from employers.”

2020, 2020 UK, Events listing, News

Britain: Employers must keep workers safe or get shut down, says TUC

  • UK union federation TUC calls for government to publish tough new rules about safety for businesses that are staying open – and to close them down if they won’t comply.
  • Workers who fear for their safety shouldn’t face punishment or dismissal, says union body.
  • Firms should agree risk assessments with union health and safety reps.

More

2020 USA, Events listing, News, Resources

USA: AFL-CIO – Unions are getting geared up for virtual campaigning

From AFL-CIO director of health and safety, Rebecca Reindel

Colleagues,

Workers Memorial Day, April 28, is just around the corner. This year is especially challenging for everyone, as we are in the midst of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic — a major crisis for workers, our families, our country and the world. We know each of you and your communities are struggling in different ways. Our hearts are with you.

It is more important now than ever for the labor movement to commemorate those we have lost on the job, and to renew our fight for stronger safety and health protections and the need to speak up for workers’ rights. This Workers Memorial Day, the theme is: “Protect Our Rights. Speak Up for Safe Jobs.”  AFL-CIO President Trumka’s letter announcement in online since we cannot mail it to you this year. Please join us this April 28 to honor the victims of workplace injury and illness and to keep on fighting for the promise of safe jobs for all workers.

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, we have fought back against the Trump administration, who has weakened worker protections at the very time they need to be strengthened to protect our communities, who has allowed industry associations to hold back common sense measures that would prevent workplace exposure to this virus, who did not heed the labor movement’s call early and did not act quickly enough to secure testing, workplace plans and protective equipment in the U.S. Last week, the first U.S. health care workers died from COVID-19 because they did not have the protections they needed to care for patients at work. We are hearing about flight attendant and manufacturing worker COVID-19 fatalities, too. This is criminal. This could have been prevented.

We must continue to fight back. We cannot and will not let the Trump administration leave workers unprotected as they battle this disaster. We will not let them turn back the clock and destroy the progress we have made to keep workers safe.

Please use the resources below when planning for this year’s Workers Memorial Day. It may be different than other years, but commemorating this day is more crucial than ever. Please reach out to us with any questions, concerns, comments along the way.

Materials:
AFL-CIO website at: www.aflcio.org/WorkersMemorialDay

Please also access these flyers in English and Spanish and poster and sticker artwork directly here. We want you to use these digital resources since hard copies are not available at this time.

Please note that our building is currently closed so we are not currently filling and shipping orders. However, we are keeping track of orders that come in so please feel free to place them. Once our building reopens, we will reach out to you for confirmation that your order is still needed, at which time it will be processed.

Workers Memorial Day Events:

Planning events will be different this year because we probably won’t be gathering in person. That’s okay. We still urge you to get involved and organize actions, activities, or observances for your workplaces and communities to highlight the toll of job injuries and deaths; demand that elected officials put workers’ well-being above corporate interests; and demand jobs that are safe, healthy and pay fair wages. This year, as every year, we will organize to make it clear that the labor movement will defend the right of every worker to a safe job and fight until that promise is fulfilled.

Even if we are not getting together in person, trade unionists around the country and globe will organize our communities and workplaces to observe Workers Memorial Day. Alternative ideas for events, actions and activities are in our flyer, available in English and Spanish. We also would like to hear about new and innovative ways you’re planning events this year, given social distancing measures.

Please share your event with us here.

Workers Memorial Day Toolkit:
Coming soon! To assist you with your planned events or activities, we soon will be distributing our Workers Memorial Day Toolkit. It will include talking points, sample materials for media outreach, worker safety and health facts, state-by-state safety and health data, COVID-19 facts and other information. Please use this in your commemoration and advocacy efforts.

How to reach out to us about Workers Memorial Day:
oshmail@aflcio.org or 202-637-5305

Hashtags you can use to build solidarity online around Workers Memorial Day:
#IWMD2020 #WMD2020 #1uSafety

2020, 2020 Spain, Events listing, graphics, News, Resources

Spain: Detener la pandemia en el trabajo

El 28 de abril se celebra la Jornada Internacional de Conmemoración, para recordar y reclamar acciones respecto a los trabajadores muertos, discapacitados, lesionados o enfermos a causa de su trabajo. Este año la jornada se centrará evidentemente en la pandemia de COVID 19.

Aunque todo el mundo está afectado por esta crisis, los trabajadores se encuentran en primera línea. El personal sanitario en particular está arriesgando su vida para seguir con su labor de cuidar a los enfermos. Hay personas que trabajan en centros de atención para personas mayores que cuidan al grupo de personas más vulnerable. Pero también necesitamos transporte, trabajadores de supermercados y proveedores de servicios esenciales para para mantener la economía en marcha. La gente debería agradecer a estos trabajadores porque si no puedes comprar comida, entonces no puedes mantener a tu familia sostenida y saludable ”, dijo Sharan Burrow.

La Jornada Internacional de Conmemoración 2020 se celebrará en apoyo a todos esos valientes trabajadores y para rememorar a todas las personas que han muerto, enfermado o se han lesionado realizando su trabajo.

Las medidas de distanciamiento social y de confinamiento probablemente harán imposible la organización de reuniones y eventos presenciales. Si tienen alguna idea respecto a actividades que podrían llevarse a cabo, agradeceríamos las compartan con nosotros enviando un email a esp@ituc-csi.org. Publicaremos sus sugerencias en el sitio web de la campaña https://28april.org/.

https://www.ituc-csi.org/detener-la-pandemia-en-el-trabajo

2020, 2020 France, Events listing, graphics, News, Resources

France: Stoppons la pandémie au travail

Le 28 avril marque la Journée internationale de commémoration des travailleuses ou des travailleurs, qui a pour but de rendre hommage aux travailleurs décédés, devenus invalides, blessés ou malades à cause de leur travail en organisant des actions. Le thème de cette année porte évidemment sur la pandémie de Covid-19.

Bien que tout le monde soit touché par la crise, les travailleurs se trouvent en première ligne. Les professionnels de la santé en particulier risquent leur vie en réalisant leur travail pour prendre soin des malades. Il y a des personnes qui travaillent dans des établissements de soins pour personnes âgées et s’occupent du groupe de personnes le plus vulnérable. Mais nous avons également besoin de transports, de travailleurs de supermarchés et de prestataires de services essentiels pour maintenir l’économie. Les gens devraient remercier ces travailleurs car si vous ne pouvez pas acheter de nourriture, vous ne pouvez pas maintenir votre famille en vie et en bonne santé », a déclaré Sharan Burrow.

La Journée internationale de commémoration des travailleuses et des travailleurs 2020 sera organisée pour soutenir tous ces travailleurs courageux, ainsi que pour rendre hommage aux personnes décédées, malades ou blessées en raison de leur travail.

Compte tenu des mesures de distanciation sociale et de confinement, les réunions et événements physiques ne pourront vraisemblablement pas être organisés. Si vous souhaitez partager des idées concernant des activités virtuelles, veuillez nous en faire part en envoyant un courriel à esp@ituc-csi.org. Nous les publierons sur notre site web consacré à la campagne https://28april.org/.

https://www.ituc-csi.org/stoppons-la-pandemie-au-travail

2020, 2020 Germany, Events listing, graphics, News, Resources, Uncategorized

Germany: DIE PANDEMIE BEI DER ARBEIT STOPPEN

Der 28. April ist der Internationale Gedenktag für die Opfer von Arbeitsunfällen (International Workers’ Memorial Day), an dem wir derer gedenken und für die eintreten, die bei der Arbeit ums Leben gekommen sind, sich eine Behinderung, Verletzung oder sonstige Beeinträchtigung zugezogen haben. Im Fokus steht in diesem Jahr selbstverständlich die globale Covid-19-Pandemie.

Von der Krise sind zwar alle betroffen, aber Arbeitnehmer*innen stehen an vorderster Front.

“Vor allem die Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen riskieren ihr eigenes Leben, wenn sie zur Arbeit gehen und die Kranken versorgen. Es arbeiten Menschen in Senioreneinrichtungen, die sich um die Schwächsten in unserer Gesellschaft kümmern. Außerdem brauchen wir Beschäftigte im Verkehrswesen, in Supermärkten und in wesentlichen Dienstleistungen, um die Wirtschaft aufrechtzuerhalten. Diesen Arbeitnehmer*innen sollten wir danken, denn wenn wir kein Essen kaufen können, können wir unsere Familie nicht versorgen und sicherstellen, dass sie gesund bleibt”, erklärt IGB-Generalsekretärin Sharan Burrow.

Der Internationale Gedenktag 2020 steht im Zeichen der Unterstützung all dieser mutigen Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer und der Erinnerung an die Menschen, die bei der Arbeit verstorben, erkrankt oder verunglückt sind.

Social Distancing und Ausgangsbeschränkungen werden aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach zur Folge haben, dass Zusammenkünfte und Veranstaltungen nicht möglich sind. Falls Ihr Ideen für virtuelle Aktivitäten habt, teilt diese bitte mit uns und schickt sie per E-Mail an esp@ituc-csi.org, damit wir sie auf unserer Kampagnen-Webseite https://28april.org/ veröffentlichen können.

https://www.ituc-csi.org/die-pandemie-bei-der-arbeit