What We Have Been Up To
It’s been a bit of a couple of weeks.
As some of you might know, one of the reasons that things have been a bit quieter on the KWPC front is because Cass has been working with a Scottish Covid Inquiry Core Participant group she was invited to join (it was meant to be on an ad hoc basis, but has ended up taking a lot of available energy). From writing the first draft of the letter protesting removal of masking in Scottish Health and Social Care settings, creating the first draft of a survey launched by their legal team to statements and pre-statements for them to give evidence, this afternoon their KC will deliver the Scottish Healthcare Workers Coalition Opening Statement to the Inquiry. This is expected to be sometime between 15.15 and 15.45 (3.15-3.45pm). The Channel link is here and today’s proceedings should be found under the “Live” tab, rather than videos. If the channel link doesn’t work, search “Scottish Covid Inquiry” in the main search function and the channel should pop up.
Rachel was also interviewed for TV in Devon, as we mentioned in our last update: This post should have come out the following day, but didn’t, for reasons. You can watch that clip here. (Be advised that Cass is typing this and their ability to get links wrong is legend so sorry if that either doesn’t work or pop up correctly).
Rachel, Cass and Brenda are all being or have been interviewed for other media outlets in relation to Long Covid, with more work likely needing done. It takes a lot of energy to do this.
Lastly, we have been discussing our next moves and one of the things that we want to do is run an update survey to see how things are for people now. We know that things aren’t good for many, with lots being finally laid off due to occupational Long Covid, with many employers still refusing to see the bigger picture and adjust roles or hours for their employees who could still work, just need changed roles and hours. Instead, they’re happy to lose that experience and expertise at a time when keyworker sectors are under significant pressure for a variety of reasons, not least those who are off sick because they are being pressured to keep up with their colleagues who don’t have chronic health conditions and suffering the health consequences, on top of what is often a hostile and discriminatory setting to work in.
On the plus side, in case you aren’t aware, Cass was put into the support group for ESA. Still nothing in terms of what’s going on with other benefits, though they expect to be turned down for IIDB and probably pension as well.
Onwards, friends!