Cambridge Labour Party Cambridge Labour Party
Cambridge City Council is supporting a TUC campaign to promote a safe return to work by encouraging people to join a trade union. The campaign recognises the vital contribution that trade unions have made to ensuring workplaces are safer for staff and members of the public through the coronavirus epidemic.
As the UK continues to tackle the coronavirus crisis, the national ‘Stay Safe at Work – Join a Union’ campaign aims to encourage more workers to join trade unions.
More than 6.5 million people in the UK are members of trade unions and statistically, workplaces with trade unions have fewer cases of work-related illness, injury and fatalities.
Where trade unions are recognised, they have special rights to health and safety representatives, access to information from employers and involvement in risk assessment processes.
Where people experience problems at work, trade unions are there to help. For more on unions and safety at work, see https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/coronavirus-health-and- safety-advice-for-employees
Cllr Lewis Herbert, Leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “The city council is totally behind the TUC Stay Safe at Work – Join a Union campaign because keeping all our Cambridge residents safe and well supported at work will always be our top priority.
“This includes our own staff who have kept the city operating safely and protected vulnerable people through the epidemic.
Unions and local shop stewards work closely with management across the city to address a whole range of challenges including protecting the mental health of employees, protecting people who are isolated and sometimes under greater pressure when working from home.
“Safety is more important than ever and because unions in universities, schools and workplaces protect people, we encourage all our residents to join a trade union to benefit from safer places to work.”
Sam Gurney, TUC Eastern Regional Secretary, said: “It is great that Cambridge City Council is working with unions and Cambridge Trades Council to ensure that workers in the city are protected.
“This is in everyone’s interest. One employer playing fast and loose with the rules puts the whole community at risk of a second spike in infections. Unionised workplaces are safer workplaces. I urge people to get together with their workmates and join a union.”
For the latest advice on coronavirus go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus