Walkout by sorting office workers at Barnsley Royal Mail after coronavirus outbreak
Exact number of coronavirus cases at Barnsley's Royal Mail depot confirmed as scale of 'outbreak' is revealed
Glad to see that Royal Mail is taking this WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC that is KILLING 10'S of THOUSANDS seriously.
Communication Workers Union
Dave Joyce National Health & Safety Officer
150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX
Tel: 020 8971 7365/7308 E-Mail: djoyce@cwu.org
Our Reference: E4/DJ/lmp
23 June 2020
Dr Shaun Davis
Global Director Compliance & Sustainability
Royal Mail Group
Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC)
Axis Park
Langley
Slough
Berkshire
SL3 8AQ
E: shaun.davis@royalmail.com
Dear Shaun,
Re: Barnsley DO - Coronavirus Covid-19 Outbreak & Remedial Action:
At today’s RM/CWU National Joint Coronavirus Operational Team Meeting I raised the issue of the current Coronavirus outbreak at Barnsley DO as an example of how NOT to deal with such situations.
To reiterate what I said today;
Over the last 24 hours I have had serious concerns expressed to me, on behalf of the Barnsley DO workforce by CWU Area, Divisional and National Postal Executive members in respect of the virus outbreak in Barnsley where 3 Managers have tested positive for Covid-19 and a further 2 managers are self-isolating, following the positive test results of their colleagues.
Not surprisingly, under the circumstances, there is an extremely high level of anxiety and Stress amongst front line CWU OPG postmen and women grades about the high risk that a number of them may have contracted the virus from their managers, who I’m informed, cover every inch of the DO, working in, around and amongst the workforce on all levels.
This must also be gauged against the backdrop of Barnsley being a current ‘hot-spot’ for Coronavirus outbreaks;
- Asda Supermarket’s Kober meat processing plant in Cleckheaton, 20 miles from Barnsley, has had a Coronavirus outbreak involving 150 workers from its 500 workforce testing positive for the virus. The plant has been closed with the test-and-trace programme underway.
Three workers from the Cranswick food factory in Barnsley died from Coronavirus.
The Joseph Locke Primary School in Barnsley has been closed on the advice of Public Health England after three staff members tested positive for Covid-19.
As yet I don’t see that! The other outbreaks in the locality have a lot in common with Royal Mail Delivery Offices, where workers and their managers spend work periods in close proximity despite social distancing of which compliance is questionable! This heightens the risk of spreading the virus through human-to-human transmissions in such workplace environments.
Turning now to the local response which leaves much to be desired!;
For a start – when a ‘Deep Clean’ was requested following the outbreak, a single cleaner arrived with a mop and bucket ! which produced a totally insufficient response.
A second attempt involved the arrival of a second cleaner with a mop and bucket and another totally insufficiently resourced, non-specialist response which was rejected by both the Delivery Office Manager and the CWU Area Reps – remembering that this Delivery Office is a substantial building on three floors.
At this stage, eventually, a professional team of specialist cleaners arrived from “Safe Group Services Ltd” Covid-19 Clean Up Experts, a leading independent provider of emergency soft facilities management services.
The professional team completed a thorough, fit for purpose deep clean job to everyone’s satisfaction – but not after the charade the preceded it which in all honesty was seen by all observers to be absurd.
Secondly, Michelle Mangan Senior HR Business Partner for South Yorkshire & Lincs has written to the CWU Divisional and Area Representatives telling them that “If an employee has booked a Covid-19 test and does not have symptoms then they should attend work or be stopped pay.”
However the Government “Test & Trace” advice is that “If you have had close recent contact with someone who has Coronavirus, you MUST self-isolate.” Therefore with 5 Barnsley DO Managers currently off work due to the Coronavirus – all of whom have been in close contact with the workforce – why is Michelle Mangan giving such wrong and unreasonable advice? This must be corrected immediately!
Finally, it has been ‘muted’ that managers from other local Delivery Units are to be brought in to Barnsley DO – If that’s accurate, then the failure to impose proper risk controls at Barnsley could potentially lead to a spread of the Virus to the Delivery Offices from where these ‘imported’ managers originate. I strongly suggest that needs to be examined and risk assessed also.
You suggested we discuss this offline following today’s meeting and I look forward to a positive response.
Yours sincerely
DJ Sig
From Dave Joyce | National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Member TUC Health & Safety Specialists Committee
Email djoyce@cwu.org | Direct line 020 8971 7365
Communication Workers Union, The communications union
Headquarters 150 The Broadway | Wimbledon | SW19 1RX
T 020 8971 7200 | F 02089717300 | http://www.cwu.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; | @CWUNews
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Communication from Michele Mangan
As discussed:
· The unit has had an intense deep clean
· We believe 80 employees have booked tests and said that they are not coming back to work until their results arrive
· Employees should only book a test if they have symptoms in line with the Government advice
· If an employee has booked a test and does not have symptoms then they should attend work
· If the employee does not return to work, we can stop pay. If they provide a fit note respectively then we will reinstate pay
· If the employee is anxious about returning we can offer annual leave or unpaid leave (test results coming back within 48 hours)
· An employee is at risk if they have been in contact within 2 metres for 15 minutes or more with a person who has Covid 19
Michelle
Michelle Mangan
Senior HR Business Partner for South Yorkshire & Lincs
T ***** ****** (Want it?)
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It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low life c***s they have always been.
