{"id":23247,"date":"2020-08-14T12:45:52","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T11:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=23247"},"modified":"2020-08-14T15:25:43","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T14:25:43","slug":"heroes-and-zeroes-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=23247","title":{"rendered":"Heroes and zeroes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n\n<p>Every Friday here on UniteLIVE we bring you the latest &#8216;heroes and zeroes&#8217; amid the coronavirus crisis. Here are this week&#8217;s latest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Bakkavor workers<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This week, Unite highlighted how workers who need to self-isolate at a Bakkavor dessert factory in Newark, Nottinghamshire, where there has been a coronavirus outbreak, were only given statutory sick pay of just \u00c2\u014195 pound a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But thanks to pressure from the workforce with the support of their union Unite, Bakkavor made a welcome U-turn and committed to paying their workers full sick pay based on their normal wage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite regional officer Mick Orpin said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnite welcomes the decision by Bakkavor to ensure self-isolating workers in Newark receive their full wages while they are off. It is the right thing to do both for those who may struggle to get by if they are forced to stop working and for the wider efforts to stop the virus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 spread. It is also an example of the real gains to be had from joining a union.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out more in our <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/bakkavor-sick-pay-win\/\">full story here<\/a>, and you can also hear from Mick Orpin speaking after the victory in the video below. <\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Our Regional Officer Mick Orpin with an update on the great result for workers at Bakkavor in Newark, securing full pay if they need to self-isolate following a recent outbreak of Covid-19 at the factory. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UniteWin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UniteWin<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YwrLZcyEqO\">pic.twitter.com\/YwrLZcyEqO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d uniteeastmids (@UniteEastMids) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniteEastMids\/status\/1293597778002808834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 12, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Health visitors<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ve featured health visitors before as heroes amid the coronavirus crisis and this week we pay tribute to them again, after the CPHVA highlighted their importance and called on health visitors and other community nurses to be be represented on NHS trusts and boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We would like to say an enormous \u00e2\u20ac\u0098thank you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to all of you who selflessly stepped up to combat coronavirus at great personal risk to yourselves,&#8221; wrote Unite regional officer Su Lowe and Unite lead professional officer Obi Amadi, on behalf of the CPHVA this week in a comment piece on UniteLIVE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;As specialist nurses, your skills have been key in the NHS\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 once-in-a-generation response. Many of you have held health visiting and school nursing services together demonstrating flexibility and versatility, as you drew upon all your skills and accumulated reservoirs of specialist knowledge.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read the <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/make-your-voice-heard-in-the-post-pandemic-world\/\">comment piece in full here<\/a>, and you can also hear from a Unite health visitor who this week described all the sacrifices she and her colleagues made during the peak of the pandemic in our <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/we-were-in-the-thick-of-it\/\">special feature here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Make your voice heard in the post-pandemic world\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Unite_CPHVA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Unite_CPHVA<\/a> CPHVA: Health visitors, school nurses and community teams should be represented on NHS trusts and boards. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2zd0GAwcme\">https:\/\/t.co\/2zd0GAwcme<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ObiCPHVA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ObiCPHVA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/unitetheunion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@unitetheunion<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HealthVisitors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HealthVisitors<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SchoolNurses?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SchoolNurses<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CommunityNursing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CommunityNursing<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NHS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NHS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d UniteInHealth (@UniteinHealth) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniteinHealth\/status\/1293152418813935616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Shipbuilders &#8211; fighting for the future of their industry<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This week UniteLIVE highlighted how the government is going back on its word to build Royal Navy fleet support ships in the UK \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and has sneakily invited overseas yards into bidding to build three new key ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our investigative piece, we examine why shipbuilding is so vital for the UK&#8217;s future, and why the government needs to keep its word and step up to the plate to protect it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWhile the question is asked about who will pay for the pandemic it is bewildering that the government refuses to see the incredible possibilities it could reap from a thriving shipbuilding sector,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 says Unite assistant general secretary, Steve Turner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u015bShipbuilding is not a relic, nor our yesterday as a nation. In fact, it very much ought to be part of our future \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and that of all our skilled workers who have given so much and who have had their lives put on hold by the cruelty of Covid-19 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and now by the backtracking of this government.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read the <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/i-see-no-ships\/\">full feature here<\/a>, and find out more about Unite&#8217;s Keep Britain Afloat campaign in the video below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Keep Britain Afloat\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GyutOFypAaY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Bank branch workers<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bank branch workers are among the forgotten heroes of the coronavirus crisis, with many travelling into work even at the height of the pandemic at great risk to their lives to provide a vital service to their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As UniteLIVE highlighted earlier on in the pandemic,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/its-time-bank-workers-were-recognised\/\">after speaking to one branch worker back in May<\/a>, bank branches had queues out the door even as the majority of businesses were shut and people stayed at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This week, we highlighted how many bank branch workers at NatWest, disappointed by how they&#8217;ve not received the recognition they deserve, have had enough and have applied for voluntary redundancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You find out more in our <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/rock-bottom-morale\/\">full feature here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As NatWest announces hundreds of job cuts <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UNITElive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UNITElive<\/a> investigates why so many bank branch staff have had enough \u0111\u017a\u201d\u02dd<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xPn6MUTC1d\">https:\/\/t.co\/xPn6MUTC1d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/unitetheunion\/status\/1294187251354624000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong><em>ZEROES<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Serco<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Topping this week&#8217;s zeroes list is outsourcing firm Serco, which was granted a contract by the government for track and trace services. As UniteLIVE highlighted, the firm has failed miserably &#8211; only successfully contacting just over half of people who&#8217;ve had close contact with someone who has confirmed to have coronavirus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite has now joined the Labour Party and others in calling for the government to scrap the \u00c2\u0141108m contract when it is up for renewal in about a week, and to instead divert the money to local authorities and public health teams, which have had a much better record on contact tracing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite national officer for local government Jim Kennedy said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis foolhardy and expensive reliance on private sector companies by the Tory government to deliver a comprehensive \u00e2\u20ac\u0098test and trace\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 programme is just another example of a misguided outsourcing policy that includes the ignominious failure of G4S to provide adequate security for the 2012 Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u015bLocal government has a proven history going back to the end of the 19th century for delivering public health initiatives to local communities \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it is a scandal that it has been by-passed up to now in favour of controversial outscoring companies where shareholders\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 profits trump the public good.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read our <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/serco-track-and-trace-failures\/\">full feature here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/unitetheunion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@unitetheunion<\/a> for joining calls for the government to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ScrapSerco?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ScrapSerco<\/a> from the test, track and trace system!<\/p>\n<p>With Serco&#8217;s contract up for renewal on August 23, it&#8217;s time the government kicked this failing company out of the system.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wjRBsDVUGq\">https:\/\/t.co\/wjRBsDVUGq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d We Own It (@We_OwnIt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/We_OwnIt\/status\/1293856953937072128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 13, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong><em>The government &#8211; for presiding over the worst recession since records began, as well as the worst excess death toll rate in all of Europe<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UK has earned the dubious distinction of being \u00e2\u20ac\u0098world-beating\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in two respects this week \u00e2\u20ac\u201c new figures show the UK has suffered the worst recession out of any G7 country amid the coronavirus crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This feat has also come at a time when the UK has also achieved the worst excess death toll out of any country in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While every major country has suffered a major economic hit &#8211; and so many countries have also seen tens of thousands of deaths &#8211; the UK is faring particularly badly, because of decisions the government has made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite general secretary Len McCluskey called on the government to extend its furlough scheme and not abandon the British people in their hour of need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read our <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/uk-plunged-into-recession\/\">full feature here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Unions demand immediate action to get people back to work, as UK nosedives into recession.<\/p>\n<p>Via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DailyMirror?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DailyMirror<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xVOw9cdEO0\">https:\/\/t.co\/xVOw9cdEO0<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wtksFy8ikh\">pic.twitter.com\/wtksFy8ikh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/unitetheunion\/status\/1293492484908122112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 12, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Go North West Ltd.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>About 500 Manchester bus drivers will hold a consultative ballot on whether they want to take industrial action after a senior Unite rep at bus company Go North West Limited was suspended for carrying out legitimate trade union activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite said that the ballot follows the suspension of the rep, who is also a Unite branch chair, as the union highlighted plans to reduce the wages of 500 Manchester bus drivers by an estimated \u00c2\u01412,000-a-year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite said that the suspension was sanctioned by Go North West Limited managing director Nigel Featham. The union has called for the senior rep\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s immediate reinstatement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite regional officer Steve Davies said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe suspension of our senior shop steward is a ham-fisted attempt at weakening and undermining the confidence of drivers by trashing industrial relations with Unite.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read more in <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/we-will-not-allow-our-reps-to-be-bullied\/\">full story here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Around 500 Manchester bus drivers will hold a consultative ballot on whether they want to want take industrial action after Unite&#8217;s senior shop steward at bus company <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/gnwbus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@gnwbus<\/a> was suspended for carrying out legitimate trade union activities.<\/p>\n<p>Read here:<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iZrJSlGCNT\">https:\/\/t.co\/iZrJSlGCNT<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KjrCTNX1kM\">pic.twitter.com\/KjrCTNX1kM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite North West (@Unite_NorthWest) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Unite_NorthWest\/status\/1293921172762042369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 13, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Heathrow Airport<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite has this week accused Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) of pursuing a &#8216;greed, not need\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 approach to the workforce. In June, HAL announced its intention to make swingeing cuts to pay, cut allowances and close the final salary pension scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through extensive negotiations with the employer Unite has attempted to reverse many of the proposals but with HAL unwilling to consider fairer measures, Unite, which represents over 4,000 directly employed workers at the airport, will recommend to the workforce that when the proposals are put to them that they are rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unite\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s officials report that HAL has threatened to issue section 188 notices, which would result in staff being fired and re-hired on the inferior contracts, in an effort to `bounce\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 the workforce into hasty acceptance of the new contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of Unite&#8217;s aviation campaign, Heathrow workers and their supporters this week held a protest at the airport, to call on the government to support the aviation sector and to demonstrate against HAL&#8217;s actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find out more in <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/heathrow-greed\/\">our full story here<\/a>. And don&#8217;t miss our picture gallery from the <a href=\"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/heathrow-workers-protest-bosses-greed\/\">Heathrow protest here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Regional Secretary Pete Kavanagh and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jamesmurray_ldn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@jamesmurray_ldn<\/a> joined 100s of Unite members at Heathrow airport to show their support and solidarity with workers campaigning to save UK&#8217;s aviation industry. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SaveAviationJobs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SaveAviationJobs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SaveOurAirports?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SaveOurAirports<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/w5vkEHiFEo\">pic.twitter.com\/w5vkEHiFEo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Unite London &amp; Eastern (@UniteLondonEast) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniteLondonEast\/status\/1292852671431540739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong><em>By Hajera Blagg<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every Friday here on UniteLIVE we bring you the latest &#8216;heroes and zeroes&#8217; amid the coronavirus crisis. Here are this week&#8217;s latest. Bakkavor workers This week, Unite highlighted how workers who need to self-isolate at a Bakkavor dessert factory in Newark, Nottinghamshire, where there has been a coronavirus outbreak, were only given statutory sick pay [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1308,1],"tags":[1259,1391,1295,195,1328,1390,779,514],"wps_subtitle":"UniteLIVE highlights the latest heroes and zeroes amid the coronavirus crisis","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23247"}],"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=23247"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23252,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23247\/revisions\/23252"}],"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=23247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}