Unions demand leaders up their efforts in safeguarding their people
As the country’s COVID-19 cases exceed recent peaks, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) passed a resolution to call for employers to do their jobs to ensure all workplaces are safe for workers.
The resolution came after the ACTU heard from health and social care unions about the unmanageable pressure placed on the healthcare system because of the current uptick in covid cases.
“We have heard from health and social care unions today that pressure on our healthcare system and healthcare workers is at an unacceptable level,” ACTU President Michele O’Neil said.
“Healthcare workers are doing more than their part on the frontline, it’s time that all employers and the community support them,” she added.
ACTU also reported that as of 19 July, 5,200 hospitalisations were reported, which is close to the peak of the pandemic so far. It further said that Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly confirmed that Covid case numbers would soon surpass all previous peaks.
Given the anticipated increase in COVID-19 cases, the ACTU reiterated its call that employers have the legal responsibility to consult and cooperate with workers about making the work environment safe.
“The current level of infection means employers are obliged to ensure that all workers who can work from home do so, and those who cannot are required to wear masks and socially distance in the workplace,” unions said.
Based on the recently passed resolution, ACTU called on employers to give all employees free rapid antigen tests (RATs), whether working from home or in the workplace.
“No worker should have to decide between putting food on the table or isolating with Covid,” O’Neil said.
Unions further said that the resolution also demanded employers to go beyond the Federal Government’s Disaster Leave Payment and give paid leave at full payment for workers who need to undergo isolation to ensure that workers are still supported.
“The biggest Covid wave of the pandemic so far is about to hit and it’s imperative that employers adhere to their legal obligations to protect their workers’ health and safety by ensuring that all workers who can work from home do so, and those who cannot have masks and social distancing arrangements in place,” O’Neil said.
The ACTU president also reminded the public that Australia’s entire healthcare system is compromised unless cases are controlled and employers cooperate and support the health and safety of their workers.
