Yesterday in Stormont the Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald launched Unite’s ‘Extreme Weather’ survey results and policy demands, following a survey of over 1200 Unite members across Northern Ireland and their experiences delivering essential services during recent severe storms.
The event heard first-hand testimony and also from a representative of the family of Unite member Matthew Campbell, who was killed while working during Storm Ali in 2018.
There were speakers from the NI Assembly Economy committee, who also sponsored the event in the Long Gallery, Philip Brett MLA (Democratic Unionist Party) and Emma Sheerin MLA (Sinn Féin).
The speakers which included Unite Regional Secretary Susan Fitzgerald called for:
- A statutory obligation on employers to conduct extreme weather risk assessments
- Graduated alert-based responses, with all non-essential work to cease during ‘red’ alerts
- A legal requirement for wages to continue being paid during weather-related closures
- Up to four days’ paid climate leave, based on the Spanish precedent
- Statutory maximum working temperatures.
Speaking for the Northern Ireland Committee of ICTU, which represents 200,000 workers in NI, Clare Moore said
Congress welcomes the launch of this document which highlights the growing threat to workers posed by extreme weather events. The huge response to UNITE’s survey provides an important insight into the dangers that many workers were exposed to during the recent Storm Eowyn and the results underline the urgency required to deal with these dangers. Legislators and employers need to listen to and engage with trade unions to bring forward much needed protections.
These should include specific improvements to legislation including establishing maximum temperatures as well as introducing positive duties on employers at times of extreme weather. Trade Unions have a vital role to play in protecting the health and safety of workers and working with employers and government to improve workplace safety. NIC ICTU looks forward to further engagement and action on these matters.
The document from Unite can be downloaded here
