Union warns Blackpool Council staff must be kept safe during crisis

Unison said while it welcomed people being redeployed to new roles in response to the coronavirus crisis, it was "concerned some staff have been told by their managers they must report to work, even though they live with someone who has been instructed by the NHS to self-isolate.

"This is clearly unacceptable and ultimately risks lives."

But the council said it was ensuring all possible safeguards were in place.

A spokesperson said: "We would never ask any member of staff who is in a household with someone self-isolating with symptoms of the virus to contravene government guidelines and come into work."

Staff based at sites which have been closed such as libraries and leisure centres have been redeployed, with the latter, for example, now working for the council's catering service packing up meal parcels for vulnerable residents.

Neil Adams, branch secretary of the Blackpool local government branch of Unison, said: "We fully support and encourage our members to volunteer to carry out different duties in order to contribute to the national effort against Covid-19.

"That being said, council workers should not be forced to carry out roles they are unfamiliar with, without appropriate training or personal protective equipment.

"We have also heard of some instances of staff being recalled to complete non-essential work.

"Whilst we accept the council is under immense pressure to respond to this crisis, made more difficult by a decade of brutal cuts to funding by central government, we call on the council to follow more thoroughly the government guidance on remote working and social distancing."

A spokesperson for the council said it was working "closely with trade unions and employees in accordance with government guidelines to ensure essential services to vulnerable residents and businesses are maintained whilst at the same time supporting our employees’ health and wellbeing.

"This means, wherever possible, employees who are living with someone in the vulnerable group are able to work from home.

"In the small number of cases where the employee is a critical worker, and there are staff shortages, this is not always possible.

"However, in these situations a risk assessment is carried out to ensure all government guidance and safeguards are in place.

"As a public sector organisation many of our services are essential and we are proud of the support being provided by our key and critical workers at such a difficult time.”