End to Covid restrictions a threat to HGV drivers and their employers, union warns

The Unite union is calling on the government to think again on its plans to scrap the need to self-isolate, end the legal requirement to wear face masks in England and remove limits on social gatherings and social distancing.

Announcing the move, Johnson said Covid will become a virus society learns to live with, as it does with flu, but conceded the reopening would likely lead to more deaths.

Statistics show that cases could rise to 100,000 a day this summer with the government acknowledging there is a “real risk” of a variant emerging that is resistant to vaccines.

Steve Turner, Unite assistant general, expressed shock at the government's plans, pointing out that the R-rate in England is running at 1.3 and case rates are back at January levels.

He warned that rising Covid levels combined with government moves to wind down and finally end the furlough scheme on 30 September and low statutory sick pay rates would create serious problems for both workers and employers.

Last year, research by the Trade Unions Congress warned the government that asking workers to self-isolate on the statutory sick pay rate of £96 a week is not viable – especially when many don’t have savings to fall back on.

Turner said: "It is absolutely staggering that the government has pronounced that we must now live with Covid, yet they have put zero support in place to support struggling businesses and workers through this next phase.

"Draining down furlough support at this volatile time just makes no economic sense. Instead, the government should be rebooting the scheme, looking at how it can support the economy to live with Covid, which we're told will be with us for years.

He added: “The employers that I talk to daily are fearful that if the guard is dropped in our communities, it will be their workplaces that will be hit, but they have been given no support to send workers home to recover. Even those who can claim sick pay will only have £14 a day to keep a family - and two million workers won't have any financial help at all.

"Working people have lost their lives or had their health destroyed by this crippling virus. Our communities' health is not some bone to be chucked to the Tory backbenches.”

Unite national officer for road transport Adrian Jones raised concerns about the impact of these measures on HGV drivers, who have worked throughout the pandemic to keep supply chains moving, and on hauliers who are facing a severe driver shortage.

He said: “In road haulage we have an ageing workforce that, whilst predominantly double jabbed, will be affected more seriously if they get infected. This will lead to time off work so pay is vitally important.

Jones also raised fears that with the relaxation of Covid precautions some haulage customers may reopen drivers’ waiting room, which were closed at the beginning of the pandemic after drivers complained of having to wait for long periods in them in crowded conditions.

“Our drivers are concerned that drivers waiting rooms will just reopen with drivers crammed in with no safeguards. Drivers can wait for hours, sometimes in pretty cramped conditions that may not be kept as clean as they could be.”

He called for Covid risk assessments to be reviewed to ensure they contine to include adequate safeguards, adding: “Covid has not gone away.”