The Socialist 1 April 2020

PPE, tests, full pay - for all now

NHS workers speak out: austerity has left us unprepared

Schools: union oversight needed to end chaos in provision under coronavirus

Councils must use resources now for emergency response

NHS supply chain worker: privatisation has cut equipment quantity and quality

Self-isolation class divide: decent homes for all!

Fully fund hospices to care for vulnerable children

Scandalous conditions in food distribution centre

Coronavirus news in brief

All in this together? The 'Blitz spirit' myth

PPE, tests, full pay - for all now

Labour must resist 'Covid coalition': Workers need their own voice and party

Emergency legislation: Trade unions must be on guard against attacks on workers' interests

Capitalism means empty shelves, food insecurity, and soaring profits - the case for a socialist alternative

Key workers should make bold demands

Essential workers deserve more

Working in Mike Ashley's empire: After lockdown we won't forget how we've been treated

Hull construction workers force bosses to shut down site over health and safety fears

Bosses concede to walkouts in Northern Ireland

Bus drivers halt sackings - now restore our pay

Postal workers walk out over health, safety and junk mail

Working from home during the pandemic

Leicester: Nylacast worker exposes truth

Refuse collection workers strike

Fight for safety, staffing and services - Covid chaos for benefits claimants

More than ever, we need accountable union leaders

Help us continue to fight for workers and socialism

Building the Socialist Party

Going viral - Socialist letters and comments on the coronavirus crisis

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Postal workers walk out over health, safety and junk mail

photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

Gary Clark, CWU Scotland No.2 branch secretary

Postal workers give the public a great service. But in this is a time of national emergency - we should be doing this in as safe environment as possible.

We should only safely deliver essential items, with proper PPE and observe the two-metre safe distance. But from reports from all over the country, this is not happening.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) reps are going out and sourcing hand sanitiser etc for their members. It is shocking Royal Mail hasn't provided them.

The government says only essential work. What is essential about postal workers delivering advertising leaflets? This time could be used to deliver medical supplies and other items to people in self-isolation, particularly those at-risk or being shielded.

We are reaching breaking point. But now we have to deliver a letter from the prime minister to every address in the country when thousands of postal workers are either off sick or in self-isolation.

Localised actions are already starting to take place. At the Alloa sorting office in Clackmannanshire in Scotland, workers have walked out over health and safety, and junk mail deliveries.

In this issue

Coronavirus news

NHS workers speak out: austerity has left us unprepared