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From The Socialist newspaper, 15 April 2020
Coronavirus workplace news in brief
Postal workers walk out
Postal worker, photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Postal workers in Didcot walked out on 8 April after their depot was not cleaned when a member of staff contracted Covid-19.
The Royal Mail workers followed guidance by their union the CWU after only the workers' delivery van was cleaned and not the whole building. The workers returned to work two days later after the company was forced to clean the building.
CWU rep at the depot, Steve Gill, said: "The van he used needed cleaning which was done by a cleaning company. But our building was only originally cleaned by a man with a rag and a spray bottle."
Over the last two weeks, staff at eight Royal Mail sites have walked out over safety concerns.
Heathrow airport threat
Heathrow Airport workers have been threatened with the sack if they reject 'voluntary' pay cuts of 15% in response to coronavirus.
The message was sent to thousands of workers which said the business expected "everyone to play their part". It threatened: "There will be consequences if colleagues do not accept the revised terms as it will mean that we have to make further job cuts. It will also have consequences for those colleagues who do not wish to participate."
Holland and Barrett workers' petition
High street chain Holland and Barrett has kept its shops open during the coronavirus crisis, but workers are campaigning for them to shut, arguing their health is at risk.
The 'alternative health' shop has 750 UK stores and claims to be an essential retailer because its products cater for people with special dietary needs. But staff have set up a petition, demanding management close stores over safety concerns. They argue that what the chain sells is not essential, unlike supermarkets or pharmacies. But they also warn that most stores are too small to be safe, with no room for social-distancing.
- Sign the petition at change.org search 'Close Holland and Barrett Stores'
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
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In The Socialist 15 April 2020:
Coronavirus news
MPs get £10k each for lockdown expenses - where's ours?
Dispatches from the front: NHS staff say give us PPE, not medals!
Johnson's hospitalisation: a tale of two treatments
Big pharma's profiteering holds back drug supply
Lockdown increases domestic violence calls - Tory money a drop in the ocean
NHS nurse: we're not wasting PPE - the Tories don't value us
Rapacious capitalism and the spread of coronavirus
What we think
Exit strategy? PPE and mass testing and workers' control of workplace safety
Fight back against the corona propaganda war
Transport
London Transport workers fighting private companies and TfL to secure health and safety
Workplace news
Unite opposes all cuts to domestic violence services
Passport workers forced back to offices as Home Office shirks its duty of care
Collectively demanding safe warehouse working conditions
Usdaw shop workers' union activists meet via Zoom
Coronavirus workplace news in brief
Labour
Sabotage - the inner workings of Labour's political machine exposed
Campaigns
Plymouth students discuss rent strike
Final push for May Day greetings
Socialist Party coronavirus crisis finance appeal
Join an online Socialist Party meeting during lockdown
The Socialist Party and socialist ideas are growing
Lessons from history
How the catastrophe of WW1 sparked revolution
Readers' opinion
Going viral: Socialist comments on the corona crisis
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2020