TRADES COUNCIL NEWS
Wednesday 21st May 2020
COVID 19
Within the past few days 9 people have died in care home in Union lane. Some carers are working in conditions close to slavery in very poor accommodation and rent deducted from their wages.
The Covide 19 Campaign Group is working well and is a great base for others to use. We are talking to workers on industrial sites of the importance of joining a union and will also be speaking with workers at petrol stations.
KEEP SAFE AND JOIN A UNION
Very clear posters have been put up all over Cambridge following the Peoples’ Assembly / Trades Council online meeting and other areas have been asking about these.
HOUSING
The City Council will be approached as to what will happen to homeless people who were rehoused during the early period of the virus and Trades Council delegates will be speaking to the County Council about whether migrant and refugees have been housed following a report in the media as these are particularly vulnerable people.
MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
The Trades Council believes that the Immigration Bill is putting at risk the lives of care workers who now have new responsibilities for medical care and yet are classified as unskilled. They are not respected or valued by the government.
An open letter of support to our migrant care workers will be written and we will join together with the Stand up to Racism event on 25th May to produce a petition.
PAY
The Trades Council will support any pay campaigns and it was noted that unions have pushed back on the 2.7% offer.