The National Education Union has asked local councillors to sign a letter about the COVID-19 measures in schools to the Secretary of State for Education. Cllr Alan Hall has signed this letter, saying: “I would like an assurance that families eligible for free school meals (FSM) will be given food vouchers during summer holidays and …
Category Archives: Blog
Highest covid death rates – Lewisham in top ten
New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that London Boroughs have the highest COVID-19 mortality rates in the country. The ONS have produced an interactive map. This shows age-standardised mortality rates for all causes and deaths involving COVID-19 in local authorities in England and Wales, deaths occurring between 1 March and 17 …
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International Workers’ Memorial Day – Lewisham
On 28th April, all around the world the trade union movement comes together and marks International Workers’ Memorial Day. This is the time to remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and diseases. To renew our efforts to ‘fight for the living’ and demand safer working conditions. Workers Memorial Day …
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Time to demand a wholly public NHS and to create a public National Care Service
Dr Tony O’Sullivan, a former consultant community paeditrician at Lewisham Hospital and Co-Chair of Keep Our NHS Public has released a video explaining why the herd immunity strategy was dangerous, the need for proper personal, protective equipment known as PPE for care workers, teachers, transport staff as well as NHS employees. He argues for serious …
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Pay and Protect Care Workers Now
Councillor Alan Hall has joined campaigners from Citizen’s UK calling for a real living wage for care workers. In London, the Living Wage is £10.75 per hour. This is calculated to include higher housing, childcare and transport costs in the capital. Not only that, the current public health emergency – covid-19 – has raised the …
‘Open schools when it is safe’ say campaigners
In the light of speculation on the re-opening of schools and colleges, the joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union have called on Boris Johnson as Prime Minister for clarity on how the Government will make such a decision. Councillor Alan Hall has added his name to a letter to the Prime Minister supporting …
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Domestic Violence surge
As predicted by the United Nations, the rates of domestic violence have surged with the coronavirus lockdown measures. The New York Times reports that “there was every reason to believe that the restrictions imposed to keep the virus from spreading would have such an effect,” according to Marianne Hester, a Bristol University sociologist who studies …
Protect London’s Bus Drivers
As news breaks that ten London bus workers have died from coronavirus, Unite the Union is calling for more protection for them. Unite regional secretary, Peter Kavanagh said: “Each of these deaths is a terrible tragedy and the thoughts of everyone at Unite goes to the families of the bus workers who have died of …
Fast Food and Pub workers demand full pay during lockdown
Campaigners and Trade Unionists are demanding that low paid hospitality workers should receive full pay when their employers take advantage of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This temporary scheme allows employers like fast food chains to claim for 80% of furloughed – or laid off – staff wages. The renowned campaigers at War on …
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Protect all frontline healthcare workers
Personal Protective Equipment, known as PPE is in demand. There are reports that there is a shortage in hospitals and care facilities. The Daily Mirror reports that hospitals listed as having shortages include Rotherham General Hospital, Bristol Children’s Hospital, Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and at St Thomas, Lewisham and two …