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Workers thrown to the wolves during Covid

Workers in Scotland faced an “astonishing” lack of support leading to unnecessary workplace-related deaths according to Scotland’s largest trade union body.

Giving evidence for the first time at the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) will present the voices of Scotland’s health and social care workers who felt “abandoned” during the pandemic.

Beginning today and continuing on Wednesday, testimony to the Inquiry provided by the STUC will set out the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s workforce, highlighting key deficiencies in pandemic planning which contributed to over 12,000 deaths in Scotland.

The Inquiry will hear how a chronic shortage of PPE in addition to unusable, out-of-date or inappropriate equipment put workers' and patients’ lives at risk in acute healthcare settings. Further confusion over virus transmissibility in addition to incredible workplace pressures for key workers – predominantly low-paid, female health and social care workers with no ability to rely on sick pay – put an “unbelievable” strain on workers and their families.

Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“This Inquiry must start with a deep tribute to every single worker and their families for their sacrifice during the pandemic.

“In their name we seek to give them a voice and access to justice. Our testimony – shocking, personal and the words of the workers themselves – sets out how abandoned workers felt during the pandemic and the unbelievable strain felt by them and their families.

“An astonishing lack of PPE, in addition to faulty, out of date or inappropriate equipment, brought on by a lack of pandemic preparedness led to entirely avoidable deaths from those at the front line.

“COVID-19 is the most impactful occupational health hazard our country has seen for generations. Our health and social care staff, some of the lowest-paid workers in the country, went to work during a pandemic completely ill-equipped and exposed to the dangers of the virus.

“They did so in service to their families, their workplaces and their patients. They stepped up when Scotland needed them most. At this Inquiry, we recognise their sacrifice and pledge to fight for their memory.

END

Note to editors:

Audio clips and interviews are available. Please contact smclaughlan@stuc.org.uk to arrange.

The Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry is set to hear evidence from those within Scotland’s health and social care system. A timetable for the hearings on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th October is available here.

Full coverage of the Inquiry hearing can be viewed here.

STUC evidence is set to be heard on Wednesday 25th October at 15.55-16.15