Support the Whipps Cross workers
A webinar held by Waltham Forest Trades Council.

7pm Tuesday 21 April
Register here…

Speakers include the Unite secretary for Bart’s Trust and a local para medic.
Reports from front line trade unionists at Whipps Cross, fire service, shop-workers, buses and others, who are leading struggles to get PPE in their workplaces.
Plenty of time for discussion.

The Covid-19 crisis has brought to the fore the role of essential workers in our lives, primarily the health workers who are disproportionately affected by the virus due to the inadequate provision of PPE – there have now been many deaths of health workers following Covid-19 infection. But there are also many other essential workers including busworkers and shopworkers who are becoming ill and in too many cases dying because of lack of protection.

At Whipps Cross Hospital, trade unionists report that PPE is now arriving but is insufficient and not reaching some wards. In some cases, workers are having to resort to wearing ‘expired’ masks for several days. There is fear, anger and some demoralisation. All NHS workers appreciate the weekly applause from local residents. However, the Trades Council has been asked to help put further pressure on the Trust to get adequate PPE, and to provide the necessary training. Hospital trade unionists have also raised a demand that the government should take steps to cancel the PFI debt in order to buy PPE.