UNISON and the TUC held a joint conference yesterday evening to explore the experience of Black health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Held at Doughty Street Chambers – a barristers’ chambers particularly known for its work on human rights and civil liberties – the aim of the event was to discuss the current UK-wide public inquiry into the pandemic and to ensure that the experience of Black workers in the healthcare sector is heard and acted upon.
Surveys and research have shown how people working in the NHS encountered huge pressures and anxiety during the pandemic – and that Black, Asian and minority ethnic workers often faced additional risk that was not adequately addressed by employers and the government.
Barristers representing the TUC at the UK COVID-19 inquiry talked about the TUC’s work in the inquiry so far and how the TUC and its affiliated unions can shed light on the experiences of Black healthcare workers within the inquiry.
Key issues affecting Black healthcare workers that the TUC and UNISON have highlighted in the inquiry so far include:
A higher risk of infection and severe disease for Black healthcare workers
A potential (although the subject of ongoing research) higher risk of suffering Long COVID
Higher proportions of Black healthcare staff being redeployed into frontline roles and roles that involved a higher risk of COVID-19 infection – for instance, in ‘red zones’
A more significant mental health impact for Black people during the pandemic
A failure to undertake appropriate, meaningful risk assessments of Black healthcare workers
Poor working terms and conditions for outsourced workers, amongst whom Black workers are overrepresented, including low rates of pay and a lack of adequate sick pay
The government’s pursuit of a policy making vaccination a mandatory condition of being employed within the NHS, despite the disproportionate impact this would have had upon Black workers
Black workers being at greater risk of working in hazardous situations with inadequate PPE.
The conference also heard from Black healthcare workers about their experiences. These included problems with inadequate PPE – particularly in the opening weeks of the crisis – and even being disciplined for taking their own PPE to work.
The event was also addressed by Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who then took part in a ‘fireside chat’ with Gloria Mills, UNISON’s national secretary for equalities.
The article Conference highlights impact of COVID on Black health workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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