GMB calls for 'honest covid inquiry now' as PM updates Parliament

Posted by GMB Admin
Wednesday 12 May 2021
GMB Trade Union - GMB calls for 'honest covid inquiry now' as PM updates Parliament

Tomorrow never comes with this Government

Tomorrow never comes with this Government says GMB Union ahead of PM’s covid briefing in Commons 

GMB Union has called for an honest inquiry to be completed without delay ahead of the Prime Minister's Covid update to Parliament later today.

Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary for Public Services, said:  

"This country needs an honest Covid inquiry now. But it seems tomorrow never comes with this Government. 

“The Prime Minister had a social care plan 'ready' two years ago and we're still waiting, so I won't hold my breath. But this inquiry needs to happen without delay. 

“It must hear directly from the frontline workers and their families who got us through the pandemic.  

"They lived out every policy decision made in Downing Street - they know the reality.     

“We don't yet know the long-term impacts of Covid, or whether there will be new strains in future.  

This country needs an honest Covid inquiry now. But it seems tomorrow never comes with this Government. The Prime Minister had a social care plan 'ready' two years ago and we're still waiting, so I won't hold my breath

Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary for Public Services

“We do know what led to the completely unacceptable death toll and we know where the responsibility lies if key workers - and non-essential workers who were forced into work by their bosses - suffer long term effects on the health and mental well-being.  

“We know that there was a lack of PPE, that statutory sick pay was way too low for people to afford to self-isolate, we know 'guidelines' issued by the Government on workplace safety weren't always followed and that there was little enforcement, and we know schemes like Eat Out to Help Out were followed by a rise in cases.  

“We know low paid, women, disabled, black, asian and ethnic minority workers were more likely to die because of covid and we know the Government didn’t publish an equality impact assessment setting out how they were going to protect workers.  

“We need to know why and what will be done to support workers in future." 

Member requiring help?

info@gmb.org.uk