• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Politics

Coronavirus: Young people and home workers scapegoated, says TUC boss

Coronavirus: Young people and home workers scapegoated, says TUC boss
Newsexplored
10th September 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
2
Frances O'GradyImage copyright PA Media

The government must stop “scapegoating” young people and home workers for its own failings in handling coronavirus, the leader of the TUC has said.

Frances O’Grady said ministers had been wrong to criticise the public for misconstruing “contradictory” advice.

She also praised Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for a “strong start” but warned the party had a “mountain to climb”.

Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that rules on behaviour during the pandemic had become “complicated and confusing”.

Announcing a ban on gatherings of more than six people in England from next week, the prime minister added that the government was “simplifying and strengthening” its guidelines.

The TUC’s annual congress – held mostly online this year because of coronavirus – starts next Monday.

It comes as the number of people in work is falling and ahead of an autumn in which businesses are expected to lay off tens of thousands more staff.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms O’Grady implored Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the furlough scheme beyond October.

“We’re at the crossroads,” she said.

“All depends on the decisions that the government takes now. We don’t want to see a tsunami of job losses.

“If we ended up repeating the mistakes of the 1980s and whole towns go down, that’s a real problem.”

data-ad-format="auto">

Starmer’s start

Labour, the unions’ traditional political ally, is smarting from its worst defeat, in terms of parliamentary seats, since 1935.

To regain power, Ms O’Grady said, leader Sir Keir Starmer must harness the “collectivist” spirit shown during the pandemic, in volunteering and the weekly applause for key workers.

“Keir has had a really strong start,” she said. “You only have to look at the opinion polls to see that.

“I hear Keir talking about decency, dignity. Those are really important values, along with people looking after each other.”


Image caption Len McCluskey says Unite is likely to review its donations to Labour

The comments come at a time of strained relations between the Labour leadership and Unite, the second biggest UK union.

Leader Len McCluskey, a prominent backer of Sir Keir’s more left-wing predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, has promised a review of its donations to the party.

Asked whether this signified a potential schism between different political wings of Labour-backing trade unionists, Ms O’Grady said “soul-searching” was needed after such a disappointing election.

But this must be followed “by a coming together and shared understanding” of how the party, out of Downing Street from more than a decade already, can win again.

She added: “People from all parts of Labour’s spectrum recognise this is a high mountain to climb.”

‘Moral injustice’

With millions on furlough or working from home, Ms O’Grady said, the coronavirus crisis had created a “new working class suddenly, who have been working right through this crisis, often in jobs more exposed to the virus, from refuse collectors to social care workers”.

In the last week, it has been reported that the living wage rise from £8.72 to £9.21 planned for next April will be scrapped when the chancellor delivers his Budget this autumn.

Ms O’Grady claimed this would be “a moral injustice”.

Image copyright uk government
Image caption Infections in England are higher among young people than for the general population

The government is asking employees in England to return to their usual workplaces if this is deemed safe.

Meanwhile, coronavirus cases are rising, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock telling young people – whose rate of infection is higher than that of the rest of the population – to follow social distancing rules more carefully, saying: “Don’t kill your gran by catching coronavirus and then passing it on.”

But Ms O’Grady accused ministers of giving “confused and sometimes contradictory” advice since the beginning of lockdown.

“It doesn’t seem to be joined up,” she said. “What people resent is politicians and government scapegoating parts of the population when some would say they haven’t been top-class in terms of their own competence and capability.”

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Home working is becoming a major cause of disagreement between unions and ministers

More home working should be allowed, Ms O’Grady said, despite government warnings that this will do further damage to city-centre businesses, deprived of trade from commuters.

Unions felt “frustration”, after reaching agreements on the issue with employers and then having “the rug pulled from under them” by “pronouncements made from on high” by ministers, she added.

‘Fallen short’

Because of coronavirus, this year’s TUC congress, the traditional opening to the autumn conference season, is taking place at Congress House in central London, on 14 and 15 September, with the audience watching online.

It follows a damning report into “institutional sexism” in the GMB, the UK’s third-largest union, in which bullying, misogyny, cronyism and sexual harassment were described as “endemic”.

“I’m massively sad, disappointed and frankly angry that women are still experiencing this now,” Ms O’Grady said, “and that we have fallen short of our values.”

She added: “It’s painful, but the GMB was right to commission the report. And it will be right to make sure those recommendations are implemented and acted upon.”

Downing Street has been asked for a reaction to Ms O’Grady’s comments.

The prime minister has insisted that maintaining furlough after 31 October would keep the economy in “suspended animation”, while civil servants have been urged to return to the office as much as possible.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemscoronaviruspeoplescapegoatedworkersyoung
Politics
10th September 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemscoronaviruspeoplescapegoatedworkersyoung

More in Politics

  • Read More
    Covid: What is universal credit – and what other benefits are available?

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images Labour and some Conservative MPs are calling on the government to keep a...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Covid-19: Northern Ireland’s R-rate ‘falls significantly’

    Views:2 image copyrightPA Media image captionMichelle O’Neill and Arlene Foster appeared at their first joint press conference...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Brexit: ‘Problems’ in first week of post-deal GB-NI trade

    Views:2 By Conor MacauleyBBC NI Agriculture & Environment Correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionThe first lorries to cross...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Covid-19: Stormont to give clarity on restrictions and exams

    Views:2 image copyrightReuters Ministers are to explain their decision to tighten Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland at...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Brexit: Boris Johnson’s claims about its benefits fact-checked

    Views:2 By Reality Check teamBBC News Published 1 hour ago Related Topics image copyrightReuters Boris Johnson was...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Brexit: How European leaders reacted to EU-UK trade deal

    Views:2 media captionEuropean Commission announces ‘fair’ post-Brexit trade deal A post-Brexit trade deal has been agreed between...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Brexit: Five steps that led to an Irish Sea border

    Views:2 By John CampbellBBC News NI Economics & Business Editor image captionBorder control posts have been set...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Brexit: Will the borders be ready?

    Views:2 By Chris MorrisReality Check correspondent, BBC News image copyrightReuters With only days left until the end...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Alcohol ban for Welsh pubs and restaurants from Friday

    Views:2 Published 14 minutes ago Related Topics image copyrightGetty Images image captionPubs will have to close to...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    What’s going on with Scottish independence?

    Views:2 By Nick EardleyBBC political correspondent image copyrightPA Media Scottish independence is back in the headlines and...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Spending Review: Key points from Rishi Sunak’s statement

    Views:2 image copyrightReuters Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out what the UK government will spend on health,...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
  • Read More
    Fans at sporting events: Maximum of 4,000 set to be allowed in England

    Views:2 A crowd of 1,060 supporters watched Northern Ireland play Slovakia in their Euro 2020 play-off final...

    Newsexplored 10th September 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Trump pardons two convicted by Russia investigation
    USA23rd December 2020
  • Kieran Trippier suspended for 10 weeks over breaches of betting rules
    Sports23rd December 2020
  • The Papers: UK and EU on ‘verge’ of Brexit trade deal
    UK23rd December 2020
  • Former BBC sports reporter Kevin Gearey dies
    Entertainment23rd December 2020
  • Biden inauguration rehearsal paused amid US Capitol lockdown
    USA18th January 2021
  • Migrant caravan: Guatemala blocks thousands bound for US
    USA18th January 2021
  • Trump impeachment: When will he go on trial in the Senate?
    USA16th January 2021
  • Joe Biden unveils $1.9tn US economic relief package
    USA15th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

‘No US-UK trade deal if agreement is threatened’
Coronavirus: Rees-Mogg self-isolating after child tested
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok