Wigan trade unionists' 10-point plan for Covid-secure schools

They want teachers and support staff, members of bodies representing education employees, parents and students to be involved in formulating policies for schools alongside the council.

Pressure has again been building for changes in schools policy this week, with the Labour Party saying teachers should all be vaccinated during the half-term holiday.

PM Boris Johnson also said this week that a return to normal lessons was unlikely to happen before March 8 at the earliest.

Wigan Trades Council slammed the Government's handling of Covid-19 and schools.

Ministers have been on the back foot over the issue, with the current policy of shutting educational facilities to all but vulnerable youngsters and the children of critical workers being arrived at after bitter political rows.

In response to the trades council’s demands the town hall says it regularly meets with head teachers and will also keep engaging with trade unions.

A Wigan Trades Council spokesperson said: “Decades of government policies on academies, free schools, independent budgets, league tables, and oppressive monitoring of school workers, have fragmented our education system, and cut schools off from their communities.

“This government’s reckless policies should now be challenged at school level. A united trade union approach from school workers could turn things around, would save lives and ensure the security of school communities, and the wider population. The situation is urgent.

“Wigan Trades Council is putting forward a list of trade union demands that should be actioned to mitigate deaths and protect school workers and students.”

Despite many pupils now learning remotely the trades council hit out at politicians over the current situation, saying the Government had expanded the definition of critical workers so too many youngsters were still going in.

The organisation is demanding free resources for any child unable to currently learn remotely, Covid-secure study hubs for youngsters who do not have study space at home and funds for those suffering hardship.

The trades council also said parents must not face the risk of fines for keeping their children at home if they did not believe schools were safe.

It also wants pregnant school workers and staff with underlying health issues to be furloughed, supply staff assessed and deployed only in Covid-secure ways and risk assessments shared.

There are also demands for a maximum class size of 12 pupils while Covid is still an issue, for staff to collectively come up with safety strategies and for unions to be supported challenging school management over Covid-secure classrooms.

The Trades Council also wants the task force to look at the mental health impact of Covid-19 and work out how to solve the impact the pandemic has had on children’s education.

A Wigan Council spokesperson said: “The council engages regularly in virtual meeting with our school heads along with daily and weekly briefings and interventions to support schools who are experiencing particular issues.

“This has included timely and responsive support from our health protection team in addition to ongoing reviews and updated advice in line with government guidance to ensure risk assessment requests and returns for all council-controlled schools are reviewed.

“The council will continue to support schools and will also continue to engage and work closely with trade unions.

“We would like to thank schools and teachers on doing such a fantastic job on a daily basis despite the challenges that the pandemic presents with remote learning.”

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