WORKING AND SWINE FLU

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: july/august 2009 :: RMTnews 6 As RMT News goes to press, the outbreak of a new strain of H1N1 influenza, commonly called swine flu, has intensified raising fears of a major global pandemic. This outbreak will have a major effect in the workplace and large numbers of people are likely to be absent at any one time. It is also important to ensure that those workers who are ill as a result of infection stay at home and do not go into work. The union’s executive committee has discussed the possible impact on RMT members and an Early Day Motion is being prepared by the union’s parliamentary group. The EDM will draw attention to the particular difficulties faced by public transport members and shippers demanding that employers suspend punitive attendance at work policies that could make the spread of flu pandemic worse. The union is also insisting on the rights of the union to be fully involved in compiling government guidelines to employers on dealing with the situation. RMT has written to all employers to ensure that they have a policy agreed with the union for dealing with the pandemic or a general policy covering major health incidents with full involvement and agreement in line with TUC guidance for unions (June 2009). The union believes that where employers have “sickness absence” monitoring, or irregular attendance, or Managing for Attendance policies in place that these policies are suspended in light of the current serious situation. Employers should agree, in line with HSE and Government advice, to “advise staff to stay at home if they are sick with flu like symptoms and send home any employees who are displaying flu like signs or symptoms”. Where appropriate, it is also important that staff are given the opportunity and resources to work from home. Risk assessments need to be carried out with full trade union involvement where staff are likely to be exposed in their work to members of the public, what measures can be taken to minimise contact, duration and frequency. Employers should notify all staff of any arrangements made to prepare for an outbreak of pandemic flu, including what role they expect individual staff to take. * The TUC guidelines and Department of Health advice is available via the RMT website under health and safety. RMT calls on employers to take measures to protect staff during the swine flu pandemic WORKING AND SWINE FLU Open six days a week - Mon to Fri - 8am until 6pm, Sat - 9.30am to 4pm e-mail: info@rmt.org.uk Legal helpline: 0800 587 7516 - Seven days a week or call the helpline on freephone 0800 376 3706 Visit www.rmt.org.uk to join online JOIN RMT BRITAIN’S SPECIALIST TRANSPORT UNION Problems at work? Call the helpline (Now with two operators and the facilities to translate into 170 languages)