GMB members deserve to know why they were put in harm’s way unnecessarily
GMB members deserve to know why they were put in harm’s way unnecessarily and if the PM think it’s ok for them to die
The Prime Minister’s alleged comments that he would rather see "bodies pile high" than approve a third lockdown shows why a public inquiry is needed now, says GMB Union.
The union – which represents hundreds of thousands of frontline key workers – says the PM must come clean on why they were put in harm’s way and why he thinks it’s ok to let them die.
Throughout the pandemic, GMB has continuously called for Covid-19 to be made an industrial disease for those who worked through the crisis - and for better occupational support to be put in place for those suffering from long covid.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said:
“We urgently need a proper public inquiry.
“Comments like this undermine public trust and reinforce the idea that people were not put first during this crisis.
“The ‘bodies’ the Prime Minister callously seems to believe are an acceptable consequence of keeping so many non-essential outlets and services open are people’s loved ones.
“They are our members who have shouldered an incredibly heavy burden to see us through - and we’re not there yet.
“We didn’t go into lockdown quick enough. Lessons from other countries showed that was the most effective measure to beat the virus.
“GMB members deserve to know why they were put in harm’s way unnecessarily and if the PM thinks it’s ok for them to die.
“Before Workers Memorial Day this week, Ministers must classify covid as an industrial disease and put more occupational support in place for long covid sufferers.
“The Prime Minister needs to show people their lives matter.”
