{"id":21356,"date":"2020-05-11T12:14:31","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T11:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=21356"},"modified":"2020-05-12T15:15:12","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T14:15:12","slug":"unite-calls-for-clarity-and-caution-as-johnson-leads-nation-into-sea-of-chaos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=21356","title":{"rendered":"Unite calls for \u00e2\u20ac\u0098clarity and caution\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 as Johnson leads nation into sea of chaos"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last night (May 10) PM Boris Johnson revealed the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s long awaited \u00e2\u20ac\u0098condition plan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in the first steps to get Britain off lockdown \u00e2\u20ac\u201c which far from giving clear instruction, simply exacerbated the chaos and confusion of an already bewildered nation.<\/p>\n

Speaking in his now habitual faux-Churchillian style, he addressed his \u00e2\u20ac\u0098classroom\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 of viewers as a latter day Magnus Pyke (an eccentric scientist popular in the 70s), with his constant references to charts, equations and the R factor (rate of infection apparently). \u00c2\u00a0Blinded by the R = mc squared-style graphics the viewer was then taken step by five-steps through the \u00e2\u20ac\u0098conditional plan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to spend more times outside from Wednesday \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in England.<\/p>\n

The PM also said people who could not work from home should return to the workplace. However they should avoid public transport \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and he gave the distinct impression they should be ready to hit the road 12 hours later for a Monday morning start.<\/p>\n

Back in the playgrounds of the 1970s we all enjoyed a hilarious joke. It went something like this, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBe Alert \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Britain needs Lerts.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Not funny? \u00e2\u20ac\u201c well you had to have been there. But here we are now with the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s very own unfunny joke \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a \u00e2\u20ac\u0098new Covid Alert System\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 complete with five easy-peasy levels which could how quickly and simply easy lockdown restrictions \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the Boris Johnson way.<\/p>\n

All he needed was a swagger stick to point at the chart and even Dad\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Army\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s<\/em> Mr Mainwaring would have been impressed.<\/p>\n

For ease of reference, he hoped the next step \u00e2\u20ac\u015bat the earliest by June 1\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 would be for some primary pupils to return to school in England. This key stage would also involve shops re-opening \u00e2\u20ac\u201c but added this would only happen if supported by the science \u00e2\u20ac\u201c of course.<\/p>\n

Then, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bif the numbers support it\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 some hospitality businesses and other public places could re-open. But before you book your anniversary dinner, this would not be before July 1.<\/p>\n

‘First sketch’<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Johnson reminded the nation. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bInstead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 He said these steps formed part of a \u00e2\u20ac\u015bfirst sketch of a roadmap for reopening society.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

He also confirmed that the \u00e2\u20ac\u015bsmall minority who break\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 lockdown would be fined \u00e2\u20ac\u201c but in this world of sketchy outlines no other details were forthcoming.<\/p>\n

It later emerged from government officials that from Wednesday, people in England will be allowed out of the house as often as they like for socially distanced outdoor activities \u00e2\u20ac\u201c including exercise, sunbathing or reading in the park.<\/p>\n

Individuals will also be allowed to meet with someone (but only one person at a time) who is not a member of their household, so long as they are outdoors and 2-metre social distancing rules are observed.<\/p>\n

People will also be permitted to drive to distant destinations (within England) such as parks and beaches\u00c2\u00a0to enjoy the summer weather. Non-contact outdoor sports such as tennis, golf and fishing will also be allowed only with members of your own household, likewise with swimming in rivers, lakes and the sea.<\/p>\n

For those vulnerable currently shielding you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll still be incarcerated within the confines of your house and grounds (should you have any) for at least 12 weeks.<\/p>\n

The UK\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nations outside of England now appear to have clearer and safer messages, generally maintaining the \u00e2\u20ac\u0098stay at home\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 mantra \u00e2\u20ac\u201c confusing the situation even further. It means that there is now no unified UK response to dealing with the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Trade unions, employers, Labour, leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, police chiefs and many others, were vociferously united in their criticism of this mish-mash of hazy, sketchy, utter confusion.<\/p>\n

But most controversial of all was the PM\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u015bchange of emphasis\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 regarding workplace guidance, with those unable to work from home in England now \u00e2\u20ac\u015bactively encouraged to go to work\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 this week.<\/p>\n

Trade union leaders were rightly worried. The problem is new guidance for employers on how to maintain social distancing will not be issued to bosses until this afternoon (May 11) at the earliest.<\/p>\n

There is little evidence public transport systems are ready for large numbers of workers to start returning to their daily commute. In England\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s biggest cities there is concern about whether public transport networks can cope without dangerous crowding.<\/p>\n

TUC general secretary Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady said<\/a> the PM\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s statement was \u00e2\u20ac\u015ba recipe for chaos\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 given the lack of workplace guidance, and accused him of creating \u00e2\u20ac\u015bconfusion and anxiety\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 for workers.<\/p>\n

And employers are not happy either. The London Chamber of Commerce urged<\/a> businesses not to reopen until they had received \u00e2\u20ac\u015bsufficient information on how to get your employees safely to work\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 or \u00e2\u20ac\u015bkeep them safe while they are there.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan issued a statement<\/a> reminding people the lockdown is not actually over, and urging them to avoid public transport wherever possible.<\/p>\n

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey responded to the chaos last night by calling for \u00e2\u20ac\u0098clarity and caution\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c adding that \u00e2\u20ac\u0098decisions taken now and will shape our country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s future.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 In an absolutely crystal clear statement \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the diametric opposite to that of Boris Johnson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, McCluskey voiced his very real concerns for workers.<\/p>\n

As the country continues to combat Covid-19, which has left the UK with one of the worst death tolls in Europe, McCluskey was adamant that, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe decisions taken by the UK\u00c2\u00a0government in the coming days will shape the health and wealth of this country, not just in the immediate term but\u00c2\u00a0for generations to come.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is absolutely vital then\u00c2\u00a0that the UK government proceeds with total clarity and maximum caution as it works to\u00c2\u00a0pull the country out of lockdown \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and that it gets the sequencing of the return to work right.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bPeople cannot get to work safely unless there is safe transport for them to use,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he commented.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Cramming onto public transport\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bYet there is now\u00c2\u00a0a real risk that in a few hours\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 time, workers will be cramming onto public transport, putting at risk their lives and those of others.\u00c2\u00a0 This has not been\u00c2\u00a0thought through and the failure to do so places working people in danger.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bSimilarly, issuing safety\u00c2\u00a0guidance to employers\u00c2\u00a0instead of definite, mandatory instructions is not acceptable.\u00c2\u00a0 This\u00c2\u00a0runs a huge risk that some employers will follow the advice while others do not, and we\u00c2\u00a0urgently need to hear more from government about how it will install\u00c2\u00a0the inspection and enforcement systems necessary\u00c2\u00a0to support safe working.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnions like Unite have a wealth of health and safety expertise and we are already working with responsible employers to ensure that\u00c2\u00a0working people can be confident that they can be safe both\u00c2\u00a0at work and on the way to work.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

McCluskey expanded on this vital point. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThere is a standing army of tens of thousands of trades union\u00c2\u00a0safety representatives that could be deployed in a national effort to unlock the economy in a safe, responsible way.\u00c2\u00a0 To fail to enlist\u00c2\u00a0this pool of people expert in keeping people safe at work is simply bewildering,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

He continued, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe are very concerned that at the very point we need to build clarity and confidence, doing everything possible to avert a second spike, that this next phase\u00c2\u00a0is\u00c2\u00a0unfolding in a jumbled, confusing manner.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOf course, we want to get the economy back on its feet as soon as possible but with such enormous sacrifices given by so many already, we have to honour those who have lost their lives along with\u00c2\u00a0those who are caring for us through this crisis by\u00c2\u00a0keeping people safe and by building a future of which this country can\u00c2\u00a0be proud,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he concluded.<\/p>\n

Details\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Further details about England\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lockdown are expected in guidance to be published today.<\/p>\n

The PM will address the House of Commons this afternoon, shortly after publishing full details of his three-stage plan to start easing the lockdown across England. The long-awaited 50-page government blueprint for loosening restrictions \u00e2\u20ac\u201c which many believe would have made sense to have published before the announcement \u00e2\u20ac\u201c will be released early this afternoon, before the PM heads to the Commons chamber at 3.30 p.m. for an hour-long session with MPs.<\/p>\n

The PM will then take part in a separate Q&A direct to camera, answering selected questions submitted by members of the public.<\/p>\n