Labour MPs are lining up behind UNISON Eastern’s Stop the Spread pledge.
It calls on councils to commit to an achievable set of standards to protect care workers and service-users during the Covid 19 pandemic.
They include priority testing for social care workers carried out in work time and with transport paid, suitable personal protective equipment, full pay during self-isolation and carers leave on full pay for workers caring for a dependent with Covid 19.
Cambridge’s Daniel Zeichner, Norwich’s Clive Lewis and Luton’s Sarah Owens and Rachel Hopkins have all offered UNISON their support.
Daniel said: “I’m supporting care workers to stop the spread of coronavirus. Proud to sign the UNISON Eastern pledge.”
I’m supporting care workers to stop the spread of coronavirus. Proud to sign the @UNISONEastern pledge. pic.twitter.com/sA9ENCb7hj
— Daniel Zeichner (@DanielZeichner) April 30, 2020
Luton South’s Rachel said the pledges were “the least we owe our care workers.
I fully support @UNISONEastern‘s pledges to protect care workers during the pandemic.
The government must urgently adopt these pledges and provide councils additional funding to deliver the vital protections that care staff deserve.
It’s the least we owe our care workers. https://t.co/NrApu9cFWU pic.twitter.com/TweiNdifeD
— Rachel Hopkins (@rach_hopkins) May 5, 2020
Her Luton North neighbour Sarah echoed this, calling on government to “provide local councils with the resources to deliver the vital protections that care staff deserve.
Support and share @UNISONEastern‘s pledges to protect care workers during the pandemic.
Govt should provide local councils with the resources to deliver the vital protections that care staff deserve.
It is the least we owe our care workers. pic.twitter.com/kgG72eOlZR
— Sarah Owen MP (@SarahOwen_) May 5, 2020
And Clive also gave the pledge his seal of approval.
My team and I have spent weeks helping care workers get the right #PPE and support to stop the spread of coronavirus. We’re also proud to support the @UNISONEastern pledge. #C19 pic.twitter.com/mqZjnYuNIM
— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) May 6, 2020
UNISON wrote to all county councils and unitary authorities across the east of England a week ago, calling on them to sign the pledge.
So far none have none have been willing to sign up.
UNISON Eastern social care lead Caroline Hennessy said: “Thanks to all the MPs and councillors who have shown their support so far.
“They’ve realised how vital it is that we have proper protections in place to stop the spread of infection in our care homes.
“Councils need to come to the same conclusions and commit to our pledge. These standards could quite literally save lives.”
You can download your own pledge card below and use it to show your own support for care workers. Be sure to tag in @UNISONEastern and use the hashtag #StopTheSpread. If you haven’t got a printer at home you can email us for a pledge card.