Activist #6, 2020
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Rail & Maritime Transport Union Volume 2020 Issue 6 Published Regularly - ISSN 1178-7392 (Print & Online) 24 April 2020 LEVEL 4 - NEW ZEALAND UNITED TOGETHER : WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY 28 APRIL 2020 IS CURRENTLY AT COVID Workers’ Memorial Day coincides with the ALERT LEVEL 4. NZ first day of NZ’s transition to level 3 Covid 19 emergency response. As more people return TRANSITIONS TO LEVEL 3 to work this is a poignant reminder that Workers’ Memorial Day is AT 2359 HRS 27 APRIL. about remembering those who have lost their lives due to poor Your Union staff and workplace safety delegates continue to systems, and continue work from home on our fight for the highest your behalf to ensure standards of health and that all members are safety protection. It treated lawfully and is also a reminder that fairly during these everyone is under unusual and uncertain stress, the personal times we find effects of which are a ourselves in. hazard in itself. Looking out for ANZAC DAY – each other, showing DIFFERENT BUT kindness and always working safely has REMEMBERED never been more important. The RSA and New Zealand Defence Force have called We will observe on New Zealanders to Workers’ Memorial Day remember our service a little differently this men and women, at 6am year. Physical on Saturday 25 April, by distancing is still vital standing at your to stamp out the letterbox, front door, in spread of the disease your lounge rooms, so we won’t be able to balconies, or driveways to gather for events like take a moment to remember our fallen – we normally would. while staying within our bubbles. Instead, we encourage you to join with our More information can be found at local and international union brothers and https://www.standatdawn.com sisters to light a candle at midday on the 28th April and post a photo on the RMTU social media pages. 2 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist Our message is all workplace accidents are make people redundant than apply for the preventable, we work safely, we are subsidy." kind and we will look after each other. "At the core of our concern is that people’s life and work outcomes depend on both the COVID-19: LEAVE SUBSIDY goodwill of the employer and the employer’s CHANGES - NEEDS TO GO ability to navigate a reasonably complex new system of Government support. The FURTHER Government needs to make in clear in their advice to business that businesses should The Council of Trade Unions welcomes the pick up available wage subsidies for ‘at-risk’ government’s announcement to extend the people much stronger. ‘At-risk’ people need leave subsidy as part of the package to to have their rights to support guaranteed, support working people through the rather than depend on their employer to do consequences of the COVID-19 virus. the right thing," Wagstaff said. However, the CTU believes more can be done to support working people. WORKSAFE NZ ADVICE FOR CTU President, Richard Wagstaff is pleased that the ‘at-risk’ subsidy has been provided. PHYSICAL DISTANCING UNDER "This is certainly a positive. Working people LEVEL 3 who are ‘at-risk’ of serious harm, whether it’s because of their age, a compromised Worksafe NZ has updated their guidance on immune system, or any other health physical distancing under a level 3 alert level. condition, should be supported by the They say in an uncontrolled government to stay home and stay safe. It environment such as public transport a is appropriate and fair that this has been distance of 2 metres physical distance provided." between the public is required. "But a problem remains with a system that Worksafe say in the workplace physical relies on employers to do the right thing and distancing can be reduced below 2 metres apply for the subsidy in the first place. providing sufficient safety mitigations are in Unfortunately, in relation to other subsidies, place. They give the examples of engineering the last few weeks have exposed that some controls such as screens or personal employers would prefer to simply make protective equipment such as masks and employees redundant, than pass on, let gloves. alone top up government subsidies aimed at Employers must adhere to their obligations supporting working Kiwis. There remains a under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 problem when some employers would rather to take all reasonably practicable steps such 24-APR-20 3 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist as disinfecting surfaces and make sure plan is working in practice and identifying workers don’t come to work sick. ways that safety can be enhanced to protect staff from potential exposure to Covid 19. For more Worksafe guidance go their website https://worksafe.govt.nz/managing- health-and-safety/novel-coronavirus-covid- RMTU ONLINE 19/transitioning-from-alert-level-4/ With the unions physical offices closed and union staff working remotely there are plenty MARITIME NZ of opportunities for EMPORARY members, delegates and T Organisers to meet EXEMPTIONS online. This also applies for branch, sectors and Due to Covid 19 Industrial councils’ reps Maritime NZ are to keep in contact and granting temporary for meetings with the exemptions on annual employers. The union examinations on lifting office staff have been appliances on foreign using Zoom successfully, ships in NZ waters. The KiwiRail use Microsoft exemption is for Teams but even examinations that were Messenger will work ok due between 11 March for online meetings. 2020 and 30 June 2020. Both Zoom and Microsoft Teams just need a The vessel’s lifting download, a meeting appliances and loose scheduled and then gear must be safe for use and will be email invitations to join. subject to the normal testing procedures conducted by NZ stevedores or their For Zoom go to - https://zoom.us/download representatives. If vessels meet all the and Microsoft Teams - conditions listed on the Maritime NZ website https://products.office.com/en-nz/microsoft- they can be given a three month extension teams/group-chat-software from the expiry date of the annual If you need help to set up then contact one of examination or test certificate. the team, we are becoming experts - Full details of the exemptions and their http://www.rmtunion.org.nz/contact/contact conditions are at _details_national_office.php or https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/commercial/s http://www.rmtunion.org.nz/contact/contact hips/default.asp _details_branch_offices.php CLEANING SURFACES AGAINST KIWIRAIL HEALTH AND SAFETY COVID 19 UNDER LEVEL 3 Droplets containing the Covid 19 virus are too To support a safe return to work under level large to stay in the air for long, so they quickly 3, KRG with input from the Union has settle on surrounding surfaces. The virus has developed a Site-Specific COVID-19 Plan been found ‘live’ on plastic and stainless before work can commence under on steel surfaces for up to three days KiwiRail sites. This will be communicated to members at the safety stop meetings Surfaces or objects that are frequently starting Tuesday 28th April. touched by others should be cleaned before and after a person touches them – clean it The check-sheet includes verification that first (e.g. handles, levers, steering wheels in the Covid 19 protocols are in place and well pool vehicles, door knobs, shared desks and communicated. Union Delegate and H&S phones). Reps should be involved in verifying that the 24-APR-20 4 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist Cleaning products assist them to provide health and safety leadership and compliance with the Health • Use a disinfectant that is antiviral. and safety at Work legislation. This is a non- • Surfaces need 10 seconds of soaking assessed online training course. with the disinfectant for it to work. • For phones, radios and other more For more information go to delicate surfaces, soak a disposable https://worksafereps.co.nz/health-and- towel or cloth and wipe the surfaces safety-courses-online/ or ring 0800 336 966 thoroughly. • Use clean cloths or disposable towels to KIWIRAIL (FREIGHT) INDUSTRIAL wipe surfaces. COUNCIL UPDATE The most effective antiviral sanitisers are: The KIC meeting planned for 28th and 29th • Products containing Hypochlorite April has been postponed due to travel • Activated Hydrogen Peroxide restrictions, a video conference with the KIC • Standard Bleach reps and management will be organised in the • Products containing an alcohol i.e. next few weeks. ethanol or isopropyl • Methylated spirits can also be used NORTHERN REGION Hand sanitiser should contain at least 60% isopropyl alcohol to be effective. TRANSDEV AUCKLAND ONLINE HEALTH AND SAFETY Although the RMTU has put aside its TRAINING differences with TDAK to deal with the ongoing AVAILABLE Covid-19 Crisis, we are still not engaging with the Due to the inability to Company regarding the run face to face HP2 process around training during Driver Door Operation as lockdown, Worksafe well as the ROM Reps are offering two rewrite. The reason for of their training this has been an issue of courses online for trust and confidence. The H&S Reps and new COO Gary Iddon is Managers attempting to be more Online Stage 1 cooperative and (initial) Health and transparent but there are Safety Rep training some outstanding issues that need to be resolved. This online course equips HSRs with the A prime example of why skills to promote a we lack trust in the safer and healthier place of work and also Company occurred regarding a memo sent covers Unit Standard 29315. Successful out. There is a real problem with this memo. completion of the unit standard (via the In particular the part that says: assessed quiz and fillable PIN) allows an “You should take sick leave if: HSR to exercise their powers to issue provisional improvement notices (PINs) and • You have tested positive for COVID-19, and direct unsafe work to cease.