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CWU Telcoms And Financial Services Coronavirus Covid-19 – My Rights At Work Andy Kerr, CWU T&FS Deputy General Secretary has written to all CWU members working for employees within the Telecomms and financial services sectors. Assuring members that the Union is doing all it can to keep up to date with the changing environemnt within the UK caused by the Coronavirus (Covid-19), he writes also to confirm the CWU's commitment to supporting all of it's members irrespective of for whom they work. He wrote: "During these extraordinary times, and the rapid change in response to Covid 19, our support to our members is paramount. Regardless of the company you work for the CWU are here to help and monitor the terms under which you work. You are the invisible group of key workers keeping the backbone of communication and financial support in this country running. You are ensuring people are connected to the outside world in their homes as well as providing financial support. We are trying to keep you up to date with the evolving situation so we can provide some solid advice for each employer you work for. No worker should be penalised for following the government advice. The situation changes daily, however, the NHS Covid-19 information should help you and your families keep up to date. If you wish to contact the CWU, we are still working as normal. Your first contact should be with your local branch. Please log onto the union's website to find your branch's contact details." His letter which was emailed to the memebrship, also advises of a dedicated email address for use of for those with concerns, in order to raise such concerns to CWU HQ. He said that this will be checked on a daily basis and will make every effort to respond as soon as we are able. He continued by referring to the fact that Covid-19 is having an unprecedented effect on working life. "Many of you have been identified as key workers and aren’t able to work at home, therefore have genuine health and safety concerns. The CWU want to ensure that your attendance at work is only to perform critical duties. The health and safety of our members is paramount. We are therefore working with your employers and challenging them on a number of fronts. We will be in touch very soon to provide more detail for the specific employer you work for. In the meantime please email our dedicated email address above if you feel your concerns are not being listened to." His letter concludes by listing some key issues around Covid-19 and work: Employers should sanitise all work areas and provide the appropriate health and safety equipment to employees including hand washing facilities or hand sanitiser. * The Government has categorised two types of vulnerable people. 1. The Government advice to vulnerable people is to be particularly stringent in following social distancing. You should work from home if you can. You can however work at home, but this must be in isolation. Anybody in this category of ‘at risk’ workers who are unable to work from home should be receiving full pay, nobody should be financially worse off for trying to save their own or other people’s lives. The CWU believe you should have a right to stay at home for health & safety reasons if you are pregnant.
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