{"id":20310,"date":"2020-03-27T16:53:28","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T16:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=20310"},"modified":"2020-11-12T12:44:28","modified_gmt":"2020-11-12T12:44:28","slug":"heroes-and-zeroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=20310","title":{"rendered":"Heroes and zeroes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p>Each and every day as the coronavirus epidemic rages on, heroes from across British society have emerged to help others. But so too have \u00e2\u20ac\u0098zeroes\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c employers who have taken advantage of the crisis \u00e2\u20ac\u201c to rip off workers and their communities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nThis week, UniteLive celebrates and names and shames a new list of heroes and zeroes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em><strong>Heroes<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em><strong>1. Retired and student nurses<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Last week, retired and student nurses were urged to rejoin the NHS or take on paid clinical placements as they finish their studies. Tens of thousands answered the call and will soon get back to work to help battle the coronavirus epidemic.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">There are so many people working tirelessly to help us all through these difficult times.<\/p>\n<p>Every one of them is a hero.<\/p>\n<p>Who are your <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UniteHeroes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UniteHeroes<\/a>?<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/covidheroes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#covidheroes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/q8VuDloaBY\">pic.twitter.com\/q8VuDloaBY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite NEYH (@UniteNEYH) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniteNEYH\/status\/1243197458915774464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 26, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\nEarlier this week, Unite and other health unions reached an agreement with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to ensure that student nurses who take on placements are safe and will not lose out financially or\u00c2\u00a0have their education and careers adversely impacted.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>2. Solidarity!<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nOn Thursday (March 27) night, millions of people participated in a widely circulated call for everyone across the UK to open their windows and balconies and clap for all the key workers \u00e2\u20ac\u201c health staff, shop workers, delivery drivers and others \u00e2\u20ac\u201c who are getting us through the crisis.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">?????????????????????????????????<\/p>\n<p>? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ClapForOurCarers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ClapForOurCarers<\/a> to thank <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OurNHS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#OurNHS<\/a> workers<\/p>\n<p>? Thanks for being there<br \/>\n?? Thanks for caring<br \/>\n? Thanks for all you do<br \/>\n?? Thank you <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NHSCovidHeroes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NHSCovidHeroes<\/a><\/p>\n<p>????????????????????????????????? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/z9ZY3JStBQ\">pic.twitter.com\/z9ZY3JStBQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite the union (@unitetheunion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/unitetheunion\/status\/1243266473356910594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 26, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<em><strong>3. Food production workers taking a stand<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Workers in food production are frontline staff in the fight against the coronavirus crisis, keeping our food supply going. But many employers aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t taking their safety seriously by flouting government guidelines on social distancing and other measures.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nThis week, many workers have decided they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d had enough and took a stand, with the support of their union Unite, for their and their colleagues\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 safety.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nOn Wednesday (March 25), about 1,000 workers at poultry giant Moy Park\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Segoe site in Portadown, Northern Ireland, spontaneously walked out, while minutes later scores of workers at ABP Meats followed suit.<a href=\"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/covid-19-food-production-walk-out\/\"> You can read our full story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&#8220;Employers cannot abdicate their responsibility to their workers. Unite stands square behind our members taking action to demand safe working, PPE, sick pay &amp; income support. Solidarity&#8221; Sharon Graham, Unite Exec Officer<br \/>\nABP; Moy Park; Bexley Council; Sheffield Uni&#8230;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#COVID19<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4XLJfNcYJz\">pic.twitter.com\/4XLJfNcYJz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d UniteWorkVoicePay (@WorkVoicePay) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WorkVoicePay\/status\/1242808087259594764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 25, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On Friday (March 27) about 60 more workers also walked out at the Linden Foods sites in Dungannon over safety concerns over social distancing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>4. Taxi drivers<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Taxi drivers across the UK are finding creative ways to help their communities. Watch Liverpool cab driver Gary, who is one of a group offering free fares to NHS staff to and from work, in the video below.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UniteHeroes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UniteHeroes<\/a> \u00e2\u00ac\u2021<\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: Free taxi rides for NHS staff \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Liverpool cab driver Gary is one of a group offering free fares for NHS staff to and from work <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NHSheroes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NHSheroes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ClapForOurCarers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ClapForOurCarers<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tmFVRCQoJj\">pic.twitter.com\/tmFVRCQoJj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite the union (@unitetheunion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/unitetheunion\/status\/1243258166793498624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 26, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\nBut taxi drivers across the UK need government to support to enable them to help them help others. <a href=\"https:\/\/unitetheunion.org\/campaigns\/support-our-taxi-drivers\/\">Find out more about our campaign<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.megaphone.org.uk\/petitions\/give-taxi-drivers-the-wage-support-they-need-now-not-in-june\">sign our petition here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em><strong>Zeroes<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nAs ever, Unite is committed to taking bad employers to task for failing their workers. This week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s zeroes include:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em><strong>1. Mike Ashley and Sports Direct<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nMike Ashley received widespread criticism for trying to classify his business as essential so he\u00c2\u00a0could keep his sports retail firm Sports Direct operating as normal amid the pandemic, when other shops have been forced to close. Although Ashley has since apologised, the company still continues to operate its Derbsyhire warehouse for online orders, where working conditions have been revealed to be seriously unsafe.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nFind out more from Unite\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Paresh Patel in the video below:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BBC East Midlands on the horrifying conditions that Sports Direct workers are being forced to work in during the Coronavirus crisis. Our Regional Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PPatelUnite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@PPatelUnite<\/a> had a clear message for Mike Ashley &#8211; &#8220;Stop putting profit before peoples&#8217; health&#8221;<br \/>\n**Footage from BBC EMT <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Gafe7k9c0O\">pic.twitter.com\/Gafe7k9c0O<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d UniteEastMids (@UniteEastMids) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniteEastMids\/status\/1243280558274289667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 26, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>2. Wren Kitchens<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Wren Kitchens sacked its workers for purportedly \u00e2\u20ac\u0098underperforming\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 on Tuesday (March 24) but also cited the impact on the economy that the coronavirus will have and invited them \u00e2\u20ac\u0098reconnect with the company\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 once the crisis is over. Unite said there was zero evidence to back up the company\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s allegations of underperformance and called the claims an \u00e2\u20ac\u0098insult\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to a committed workforce.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">This morning I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been sent this by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WrenKitchens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WrenKitchens<\/a> head office at this hard time, they say it was due to performance but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve spoken to my store manager and he knew nothing about it. They find out they have to pay 80% of my wages and just sack me ?? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Z9ZH6rdv2d\">pic.twitter.com\/Z9ZH6rdv2d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Mia Rose x (@Miarosehigginsx) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Miarosehigginsx\/status\/1242786290728394755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 25, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Wren Kitchens is among a number of companies who has so far refused to take advantage of the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s furloughed workers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 scheme, where the state has pledged to cover 80 per cent of workers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 wages if they cannot work because of the epidemic.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bFiring staff in the midst of pandemic lockdown for supposedly underperforming is truly appalling behaviour as well as an insult to a committed workforce,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said Unite regional officer Mike Wilkinson. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat this happened when the government has guaranteed the wages of furloughed workers makes Wren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s behaviour particularly cruel. The government has made clear that workers sacked after 28 February are eligible for the scheme if they are rehired. Wren must do the right thing and reinstate these workers immediately.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>3. Gordon Ramsay<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nCelebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has found himself in hot water after it was revealed that instead of keeping staff on, he decided to terminate the contracts of hundreds of his employees working in his restaurants. Meanwhile, instead of staying put according to government guidelines, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s flocked to his luxury holiday home in Cornwall, where locals have warned that there isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t capacity for local health services if the outbreak there intensifies.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Utterly reprehensible <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/gordonramsay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#gordonramsay<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/N3g62vdSBZ\">https:\/\/t.co\/N3g62vdSBZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite Hospitality (@FairHospitality) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FairHospitality\/status\/1243505406447624193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 27, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em><strong>4. Wetherspoons<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nLast week, Wetherspoons made it on our list of zeroes, and this week, it finds itself here yet again. Just as the epidemic began to spread, Tim Martin, who heads the pub chain, went against government guidance to avoid pubs and vowed that he would not close his pub chain&#8217;s doors. The chain, along with all other pubs, has since been forced to shut down.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But earlier this week, workers were told that they would not be paid after March 22 until the company received government grants for furloughed employees \u00e2\u20ac\u201c likely at the end of April. In a video message to staff,\u00c2\u00a0 Martin told staff to work at Tesco in the meantime. Although Martin has since U-turned on the issue following massive public and union pressure, workers are still fighting to get 100 per cent of their wages paid for April.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">In less than 24hours, a group of barworkers have just forced Tim Martin to back-track on his refusal to pay staff.<\/p>\n<p>45k workers will now be paid 100% for March and 80% from April. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CovidFightback?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CovidFightback<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Wetherspoon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Wetherspoon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/l7NnLYFz8s\">https:\/\/t.co\/l7NnLYFz8s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite Hospitality (@FairHospitality) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FairHospitality\/status\/1242904785998708744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 25, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Unite on Friday (March 27) warned employers that they must reinstate workers that they&#8217;ve sacked since the epidemic began.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThose employers who have fired staff because of the impact of coronavirus must immediately reinstate them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe official guidance is clear that anyone made redundant since 28 February is entitled to 80 per cent of their wages under the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s coronavirus job retention scheme.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u015bNot doing so will result in unnecessary suffering and hardship for thousands of working families across Britain.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Keep in touch<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been affected by the virus and want to tell us about it then let us know. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re especially interested if you have any positive news,\u00c2\u00a0especially if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been helping or have been helped by others. Contact us at unitelive@unitetheunion.org<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>You can also visit our\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unitetheunion.org\/campaigns\/coronavirus-covid-19-advice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">website page\u00c2\u00a0<\/a>for more advice and our membership helpline for\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unitetheunion.org\/news-events\/news\/2020\/march\/unite-launches-coronavirus-crisis-helpline-for-vulnerable-members\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">vulnerable members<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Stay tuned to\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unitelive.org\u00c2\u00a0<\/a>for the news as it happens<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each and every day as the coronavirus epidemic rages on, heroes from across British society have emerged to help others. But so too have \u00e2\u20ac\u0098zeroes\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c employers who have taken advantage of the crisis \u00e2\u20ac\u201c to rip off workers and their communities. &nbsp; This week, UniteLive celebrates and names and shames a new list of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1308],"tags":[1295],"wps_subtitle":"UniteLive highlights the latest 'heroes and zeroes' amid coronavirus epidemic","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20310"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20310"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24612,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20310\/revisions\/24612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}