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Commenting on the Prime Ministers’ address on Sunday evening, Jay McKenna, TUC North West Acting Regional Secretary, said:

“Too many people will have watched the Prime Minister’s statement and been left with more questions than answers. 

“They will have asked themselves if they’re expected to go back to work but even now there are mixed messages about when they might be expected to go back and who should be returning to work.  And if they are to go back, how will they be kept safe? How will they get there? How can they arrange childcare? What if they don’t feel like they can go back? 

“Workers deserve certainty but there can be no going back to normal.

“We all want to come through this crisis, together and strong enough to recover from it. But the way that you do this, is working together to do it at the right time and with proper plans in place. This means having safe returns to work and plans for how work might look in the short and longer term.

“Trade unions have played an important role in getting us through this crisis to date, working with local leaders to keep services running and workers safe. As we enter the next phase, and look at how we return to work, workers must be heard to keep it safe and ensure there is no going back to what went before.

“It is important that the government gives more information so that we can have confidence it can work. Without this, it is a recipe for confusion and chaos.”

Editors note

Notes to editors:

- The government is expected to publish more detailed plans on workplace safety in the coming days. The TUC voiced strong concerns about earlier drafts of the plan and called on government to strengthen key elements: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/04/uk-plan-for-returning-to-work-puts-peoples-health-at-risk-warns-tuc-coronavirus

- The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

Contacts:

Jay McKenna

jmckenna@tuc.org.uk   
07788 414 578

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