Staying with the US for a moment, I find it astonishing that Trump has seamlessly moved from calling it all the latest 'Democratic hoax', to becoming a sudden convert to socialism with a plan to just send everyone a cheque! Of course he's up for re-election and possibly thinks it's a good wheeze to just buy votes with a trillion tax dollars, like he tried to buy the entire supply of vaccine being developed in Germany. This whole unprecedented event was always likely to bring out the best and worst in people.
Incredible isn't it, but money is suddenly no problem after all. There is indeed something called a money tree and we learn from the Chancellor that if £350 billion isn't enough, then 'it's whatever it takes'. But as the Guardian points out, it's going to take a lot more to fend off disaster and protect our whole economy. Did you notice Boris is beginning to look a little tired? It seems the reality of being top dog has finally hit home and he's having to put in a full day's work. I wonder how much use Dominic Cummings is nowadays? Was the fleeting irresponsible notion of 'herd immunity' his handiwork given past published views on eugenics?
Everything in life is changing at a rapid rate and no one can be sure where it's taking us and for how long. In trying to get my head around things, I keep returning to the realisation that this global event is uniting the world in a way that politics alone never has and probably never could. The virus knows no political boundaries and every nation, democratic or totalitarian, has to take very similar action to protect its citizens, preserve its political structures and maintain economic activity.
It's not just capitalism and globalisation under threat, but every shade of government. At this extraordinary moment in time when the whole world faces a shared threat, surely there's scope to re-order things in an unprecedented way for the better of us all and the planet? This editorial in the FT at the weekend gave an early steer as to what is required and might be possible:-
Now is the time for a global fiscal response to coronavirus
The first duty of governments is to safeguard their citizens’ survival and physical security. The second is to protect their material wellbeing. The coronavirus epidemic threatens both. Governments have been slow to rise to the challenge.
It is now clear that the virus poses a potentially catastrophic public health risk, which can only be addressed by extraordinary distancing measures that inhibit large parts of economic activity. The task is to implement those measures — most western governments now are, if sometimes trailing the private sector’s initiatives — while minimising the economic harm.
Money must not be a hindrance to health services’ ability to do everything possible to control the epidemic and treat the ill. To worry about public finances in such a moment is both perverse and counterproductive: spending too little is a greater threat to prosperity than spending too much.
Beyond that, the economic damage is multiplied by the repercussions from the initial disruption. Workers who lose their jobs and businesses that run out of cash cut back on their purchases, making more workers and companies lose their livelihoods in turn.
Governments should spare no expense and waste no time to minimise such knock-on effects from temporary hits to cash flows and incomes. Generous loans, guarantees and income support programmes should be put in place. They must also be designed for sectors where self-employment, freelance, gig or project work is common, such as the creative industries.
The drop in inflation expectations shows that the demand contraction is even more drastic than the supply disruption. Strong macroeconomic stimulus is warranted. Central banks have stepped up to the plate. The Bank of England’s textbook policy response combines general stimulus, targeted liquidity support, and an easing of regulatory requirements. The Federal Reserve pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into a stressed market. The European Central Bank fell short of a rate cut, but crafted a strong package of bond purchases and incentives for banks to uphold their business lending.
That package was, however, badly undermined when ECB president Christine Lagarde seemed to dismiss the need to contain the sort of disparity in governments’ borrowing costs that almost brought the euro down in 2011-12. She later clarified but the damage was done: Italian yields soared. The ECB must now state it would welcome a eurozone rescue programme for Italy with few strings attached, so as to activate the emergency bond-buying programme set up in the last crisis — and stand ready to buy Italian bonds unilaterally if markets derail Rome’s spending on coronavirus.
Until the ECB shows it has Italy’s back, that role falls to EU partners. The signs are positive. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, has put EU budget money on the table and been vocal that Italy and others should spend as much as they need on the health crisis. Even Berlin has expressed similar views. The commission has promised not to let fiscal and competition rules get in the way, and should now ask member states to activate a general escape clause.
But not all governments have shown the required determination. The US has still to put in place a proper public health response, let alone a sufficient fiscal programme. There is nothing like the global economic co-ordination achieved in 2008-9, though the need for co-ordinated stimulus is just as great. When EU finance ministers meet this week, they should not waste their chance to provide it.
--oo00oo--
It strikes me that we have the opportunity to actually do something about tax havens and agree a way to remove vast wealth from the likes of the Bransons of this world, or Russian oligarchs and Chinese billionaires. Maybe we could all agree a way of getting the likes of Amazon, Google, Facebook and Uber to pay any f*cking tax? With the world's aircraft fleet virtually grounded and travel everywhere reduced, suddenly discussions regarding that other worldwide threat of climate change could take a whole different trajectory?
--oo00oo--
With news that jury trials likely to last more than three days are being suspended, I suspect the Human Rights Blog is going to be worth following over the coming days and here's a taster, including how the Coronavirus has got the Prime Minister of Israel out of a spot of bother:-
Quarantine measures are not the only legal sphere in which the impact of Covid-19 is being felt. The Guardian reported that cleaners at a hospital in Lewisham walked out over pay, however tensions were heightened because of the risk posed by the disease. Employers have a responsibility to protect employees under health and safety legislation from dangers in respect of the work they do, yet personal protective equipment in hospitals is in short supply. The outbreak raises the question of what steps are reasonable for employers to take to protect their workers. S 100(1)(d) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 establishes that where an employee is dismissed for leaving work or refusing to return in circumstances where the employee reasonably believed there to be a serious and imminent danger, it will constitute unfair dismissal. Will a doctor, or a nurse, be in breach of their contract if they refuse to work? Is a higher standard expected of those individuals than say, a hospital cleaner, or a waiter in a restaurant?
It may be that ultimately, whilst employment law confers protection on such individuals, their own professional regulators do not. It is not hard to imagine the General Medical or Nursing and Midwifery Councils holding their members to a higher standard than that required by their employment contracts, and deeming those who have fallen below it to have brought the profession into disrepute. Many members of the public might consider such an approach to be quite reasonable. Yet could such an analysis extend to other professions with similar regulators? Would a teacher who felt keeping schools open in an epidemic was unreasonable and refused to teach be subject to disciplinary proceedings? Or a lawyer who refused to attend a public hearing?
In particular, the impact on criminal justice may be significant. Israel has already suspended criminal trials, which is presumably convenient given the Prime Minister was due to attend one tomorrow on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Similarly, the Australian state of Victoria has suspended all jury trials due to the risk of transmission during the process of empanelling jurors. Should the virus begin to spread in British jails, the head of the Prison Officer’s Association has stated that prisoners may need to be released early.
How the UK’s already stretched criminal justice system will accommodate this in the context of widespread anticipated absences due to illness amongst court staff, judges and lawyers remains to be seen. If trials are delayed, concerns must exist around custody time limits and prolonged periods of detention without charge. Similarly, how can an individual’s right to justice delivered at a public hearing under the ECHR be maintained at a time when the rest of society is taking measures to prevent the movement and mixing of individuals?
As with speculation concerning the public health response, a lot of this is conjecture. The outbreak may worsen, or it may settle down. What seems likely however is that the next few months will bring numerous challenges, and the fleet footed responses required will likely require a radical departure from previous norms.
--oo00oo--
It strikes me that we have the opportunity to actually do something about tax havens and agree a way to remove vast wealth from the likes of the Bransons of this world, or Russian oligarchs and Chinese billionaires. Maybe we could all agree a way of getting the likes of Amazon, Google, Facebook and Uber to pay any f*cking tax? With the world's aircraft fleet virtually grounded and travel everywhere reduced, suddenly discussions regarding that other worldwide threat of climate change could take a whole different trajectory?
--oo00oo--
With news that jury trials likely to last more than three days are being suspended, I suspect the Human Rights Blog is going to be worth following over the coming days and here's a taster, including how the Coronavirus has got the Prime Minister of Israel out of a spot of bother:-
Quarantine measures are not the only legal sphere in which the impact of Covid-19 is being felt. The Guardian reported that cleaners at a hospital in Lewisham walked out over pay, however tensions were heightened because of the risk posed by the disease. Employers have a responsibility to protect employees under health and safety legislation from dangers in respect of the work they do, yet personal protective equipment in hospitals is in short supply. The outbreak raises the question of what steps are reasonable for employers to take to protect their workers. S 100(1)(d) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 establishes that where an employee is dismissed for leaving work or refusing to return in circumstances where the employee reasonably believed there to be a serious and imminent danger, it will constitute unfair dismissal. Will a doctor, or a nurse, be in breach of their contract if they refuse to work? Is a higher standard expected of those individuals than say, a hospital cleaner, or a waiter in a restaurant?
It may be that ultimately, whilst employment law confers protection on such individuals, their own professional regulators do not. It is not hard to imagine the General Medical or Nursing and Midwifery Councils holding their members to a higher standard than that required by their employment contracts, and deeming those who have fallen below it to have brought the profession into disrepute. Many members of the public might consider such an approach to be quite reasonable. Yet could such an analysis extend to other professions with similar regulators? Would a teacher who felt keeping schools open in an epidemic was unreasonable and refused to teach be subject to disciplinary proceedings? Or a lawyer who refused to attend a public hearing?
In particular, the impact on criminal justice may be significant. Israel has already suspended criminal trials, which is presumably convenient given the Prime Minister was due to attend one tomorrow on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Similarly, the Australian state of Victoria has suspended all jury trials due to the risk of transmission during the process of empanelling jurors. Should the virus begin to spread in British jails, the head of the Prison Officer’s Association has stated that prisoners may need to be released early.
How the UK’s already stretched criminal justice system will accommodate this in the context of widespread anticipated absences due to illness amongst court staff, judges and lawyers remains to be seen. If trials are delayed, concerns must exist around custody time limits and prolonged periods of detention without charge. Similarly, how can an individual’s right to justice delivered at a public hearing under the ECHR be maintained at a time when the rest of society is taking measures to prevent the movement and mixing of individuals?
As with speculation concerning the public health response, a lot of this is conjecture. The outbreak may worsen, or it may settle down. What seems likely however is that the next few months will bring numerous challenges, and the fleet footed responses required will likely require a radical departure from previous norms.
Thanks Jim.
ReplyDeleteSo how do probation staff social distance. Should they still do home visits or not. Should people report for probation reports and stand at opposite ends of interview room to social distance
ReplyDeleteAnswers on a postcard. NAPO where are you?
Napo are obviously hiding under a table waiting to pounce on any given commentary that the leadership can repackage as their own grand commentary on the situation. yet most will realise if you want extra money why anyone pay anything to NAPO as they wont be doing anything for anyone for the next 6 months at least as they are now in bunker mode. Any pay gains requests will be dispatched to save the business sector and the beloved Tory Blue economy. Unless your part of their NAPO secretive and not very public vetted Face book group. Hardly a union of legitimate consultative or democratic forum. The austerity clearly a false sham for 10 years as the Tories now reveal the real purse and potential of our collective wealth as they spend their way through a biological crisis having lied to us all for years and blaming labour. Johnson is going to rot as heartily as Teresa May will end up in hiding.
DeleteMy can't sleep middle of the night reading last night was Karl Marks and Co. I dipped into it because I remember his notion that Capitalism will one day eat itself up, and I can't help but feel that's exactly what's happening, or at least the current form of Capitalism that's in operation around the globe.
ReplyDeleteThere are many large and multinational companies gone to the wall in recent years, and now many many smaller companies are likely to go belly up. Most are the ones that provide for the great unwashed, pubs, clubs, theatres and such like, and even Car Phone Warehouse is closing its doors.
There's plenty of money and wealth in the world, but it's far too consentrated amongst a tiny proportion. What use is it when you own it all?
Most things get sick before they die, and perhaps Coronavirus is just as infectious to Capitalism as it is to the individual?
http://souciant.com/2015/07/capitalism-will-eat-itself/
On tax havens. I've recently watched a documentary called "The UKs Gold" and I'd urge people if they can download it from somewhere to watch it.
We've always been able to do something about tax havens because they're mostly Crown Dependencies, and whilst they all have their own political structure, they have a British Governor, and the British Monach has the ultimate say.
The Cayman Islands is the one most mooted as a tax haven, but the UK could change that overnight in reality. But they don't because they don't want to, and they project the notion that it's another part of the world that allows the rich to exploit things in the way that we'd never allow in good old Blighty. The Caymen Islands are a Crown Dependency of good old Blighty!
"The UKs Gold", its a fascinating and very informative watch.
'Getafix
https://youtu.be/kXBJLH2xrBM
DeleteAs always,'Getafix on the money! here's a taster:-
DeleteBrutally simplified, Schumpeter argued that Marx had been right about the non-viability of capitalism in the long term, but for the wrong reason. It wasn’t class conflict that would bring about the transition to socialism but rather the processes of concentration of technology and capitalism itself that would cause this transition.
One of the (many) peculiarities of 'Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy' is that in the course of describing the downfall of dynamic, free market capitalism, Schumpeter coined the term “creative destruction,” now a perennial favorite in neoliberal circles, to describe the processes by which entrepreneurial innovation restructures segments of the economy. Although useful as a description of how capitalism (or at least a certain variety of capitalism) functions, creative destruction is oddly out of kilter with the larger message of 'Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy'.
There is an interesting homology between Marx’s and Schumpeter’s analyses of the long term developmental trajectories of capitalism: the expanding role of technology sounds the death knell for the dynamic market. In Marx’s case, it was a matter of the organic composition of capital, the tendency of fixed capital to constitute a progressively larger proportion of total capital. In Schumpeter’s case, it was a matter of technological (and capital) advantages closing off access to market sectors to new entrants. The long-term result in both cases was an ossification of capitalism. Marx also thought that this process would result in declining rates of profit, a view that Schumpeter did not hold. But, in other respects, their views were parallel.
Another good read here on Jonathan Cook blog:-
ReplyDeleteA lesson coronavirus is about to teach the world
If a disease can teach wisdom beyond our understanding of how precarious and precious life is, the coronavirus has offered two lessons.
The first is that in a globalised world our lives are so intertwined that the idea of viewing ourselves as islands – whether as individuals, communities, nations, or a uniquely privileged species – should be understood as evidence of false consciousness. In truth, we were always bound together, part of a miraculous web of life on our planet and, beyond it, stardust in an unfathomably large and complex universe.
It is only an arrogance cultivated in us by those narcissists who have risen to power through their own destructive egotism that blinded us to the necessary mix of humility and awe we ought to feel as we watch a drop of rain on a leaf, or a baby struggle to crawl, or the night sky revealed in all its myriad glories away from city lights.
And now, as we start to enter periods of quarantine and self-isolation – as nations, communities and individuals – all that should be so much clearer. It has taken a virus to show us that only together are we at our strongest, most alive and most human.
In being stripped of what we need most by the threat of contagion, we are reminded of how much we have taken community for granted, abused it, hollowed it out. We are afraid because the services we need in times of collective difficulty and trauma have been turned into commodities that require payment, or treated as privileges to which access is now means-tested, rationed or is simply gone. That insecurity is at the root of the current urge to hoard.
When death stalks us it is not bankers we turn to, or corporate executives, or hedge fund managers. Nonetheless, those are the people our societies have best rewarded. They are the people who, if salaries are a measure of value, are the most prized.
But they are not the people we need, as individuals, as societies, as nations. Rather, it will be doctors, nurses, public health workers, care-givers and social workers who will be battling to save lives by risking their own.
During this health crisis we may indeed notice who and what is most important. But will we remember the sacrifice, their value after the virus is no longer headline news? Or will we go back to business as usual – until the next crisis – rewarding the arms manufacturers, the billionaire owners of the media, the fossil fuel company bosses, and the financial-services parasites feeding off other people’s money?
The second lesson follows from the first. Despite everything we have been told for four decades or more, western capitalist societies are far from the most efficient ways of organising ourselves. That will be laid bare as the coronavirus crisis deepens.
DeleteWe are still very much immersed in the ideological universe of Thatcherism and Reaganism, when we were told quite literally: “There is no such thing as society.” How will that political mantra stand the test of the coming weeks and months? How much can we survive as individuals, even in quarantine, rather than as part of communities that care for all of us?
Western leaders who champion neoliberalism, as they are required to do nowadays, have two choices to cope with coronavirus – and both will require a great deal of misdirection if we are not to see through their hypocrisy and deceptions.
Our leaders can let us “take it on the chin”, as the British prime minister Boris Johnson has phrased it. In practice, that will mean allowing what is effectively a cull of many of the poor and elderly – one that will relieve governments of the financial burden of underfunded pension schemes and welfare payments.
Such leaders will claim they are powerless to intervene or to ameliorate the crisis. Confronted with the contradictions inherent in their worldview, they will suddenly become fatalists, abandoning their belief in the efficacy and righteousness of the free market. They will say the virus was too contagious to contain, too robust for health services to cope, too lethal to save lives. They will evade all blame for the decades of health cuts and privatisations that made those services inefficient, inadequate, cumbersome and inflexible.
Or, by contrast, politicians will use their spin doctors and allies in the corporate media to obscure the fact that they are quietly and temporarily becoming socialists to deal with the emergency. They will change the welfare rules so that all those in the gig economy they created – employed on zero-hours contracts – do not spread the virus because they cannot afford to self-quarantine or take days’ off sick.
Or most likely our leaders will pursue both options.
The two quotes above are extracts and I would suggest the whole blog post is worth reading and can be found here:-
Deletehttps://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2020-03-17/lesson-coronavirus-teach-world/
Have you noticed that advice on social distancing tells us to avoid social gatherings, pubs clubs, cafes restaurants etc to protect against transmittion and infection of the virus.
DeleteIt's about our health.
Yet everyone is panic buying, which means there's hundreds if not thousands squeezed into the isles of our supermarkets daily. I've even seen pictures of queues waiting for opening time.
But the advice given isn't one of concern for health, no warnings that a large congregation of people in a supermarket is just as dangerous as a pub full of people. The advice relates to production of goods and supply chains.
Going to the pub is a risk to your health.
Going to the supermarket is a risk to supply chains.
Just an observation.
'Getafix
Good point - something I heard the French are addressing. Each customer needs 10 sq mtrs of space and that's why there are long queues outside French supermarkets - one customer out - one in.
Deletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-all-schools-in-scotland-and-wales-set-to-close-by-friday-11959688
ReplyDeleteAll schools in Scotland and Wales are set to close on Friday in response to the coronavirus pandemic. There is speculation that similar measures could be announced in England over COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
DeletePrime Minister Boris Johnson told the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions that further decisions on school closures were "to be taken imminently".
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that people should not assume that they will open again until the end of the summer term. She said the move was necessary because schools have now lost too many staff to continue as normal.
Welsh education minister Kirsty Williams said schools in the country would be re-purposed to help people "involved in the immediate response to the coronavirus outbreak".
She said: "I can announce we are bringing forward the Easter break for schools in Wales. Schools across Wales will close for statutory provision of education at the latest on 20 March 2020. I have been clear up to now that the continuity of education and the wellbeing of our learners has been at the heart of my decision making. This will always be the case. From next week, schools will have a new purpose. They will help support those most in need, including people involved in the immediate response to the coronavirus outbreak."
https://v1019.com/2020/03/10/did-author-dean-koontz-predict-coronavirus-in-80s-suspense-thriller/
DeleteHis book is flying off the shelves right now as people want to know if author Dean Koontz had an inside scoop on the dreaded ‘coronavirus’ that’s plaguing the country right now. Koontz book, “The Eyes of Darkness” mentions a deadly virus that Koontz called “Wuhan 400”. In his book published in 1981, he describes it as a “severe pneumonia-like illness” that spreads attacking “the lungs and bronchial tubes” and “resisting all known treatments.”
DeleteHis description of the illness is eerily close to what we know now as ‘coronavirus.’ In his book, Koontz also goes on to say a Chinese scientist came to the U.S. with a disk that had China’s “most important and dangerous new biological weapon.” That weapon was called “Wuhan 400” — because it was developed in labs outside the city of Wuhan.
God I hope this doesn't give Trump the idea of saying it was all a deliberate Chinese plot....
DeleteTrump was asked about his persistent use of the term "Chinese virus" despite health officials saying that ethnicity does not cause the virus — and reports that dozens of incidents of bias against Chinese-Americans who have been blamed for allegedly spreading the coronavirus.
Delete"Because it comes from China," Trump said to the reporter who asked him that question. "That's why."
"I want to be accurate
The ongoing coronavirus outbreak originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Trump also said Wednesday that Chinese government officials originally "tried to say at one point, maybe they stopped saying now, that it was caused by American soldiers." The New York Times noted last Friday that a conspiracy theory in circulating in China that U.S. Army soldiers who visited Wuhan last fall may have sparked the outbreak, a theory that is baseless.
"That can't happen. It's not going to happen. Not as long as I'm president," Trump said of that theory.
"It comes from China," the president repeated about the virus.
On Tuesday, a day before the press conference, CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, who was born in China, wrote on Twitter that, "This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the 'Kung-Flu' to my face."
"Makes me wonder what they're calling it behind my back," Jiang added.
As Boris quipped, its a 'last gasp' scenario.
Deletehttps://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/trumps-chinese-virus-tweet/608263/
Deletehttps://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-trumps-chinese-virus-phrase-helps-him-deflect-covid-19-blame-11959960
DeleteTests for COVID-19 are not yet widely available in this country, but a test for gullibility is now available on Twitter in the form of Donald Trump’s feed. This morning, he referred to COVID-19 as “the Chinese virus.” In doing so, he was retreating, like a child to his blanket, to the kind of degenerate culture-war squabble in which he feels most secure and his supporters most aggrieved. Here’s the gullibility test: When you read “the Chinese virus,” are you most offended by Trump’s insistence on racializing the pandemic, or by the administration’s cowardice and incompetence, which may kill hundreds of thousands of Americans and have already decimated the economy several times over?
DeleteBefore you answer, remember one more thing about the gullibility test: Its results can be read only by someone else. It is a truism in the world of sleight of hand that anyone who claims that she wasn’t fooled by a trick—but says so after the illusion is long finished—not only was fooled by it but is a perfect mark for the next effect. (Watch that same person during the trick, and you’ll see how she is utterly taken in.) The same is true of the gullibility test. You need the emotional equivalent of instant replay to see how the furnaces of your rage may have burned at the sight of that phrase, and how your reaction recalibrated only after you realized you were being tested.
The “Spanish flu” was so named even though the first outbreaks probably happened in Haskell County, Kansas. The virus likely traveled to Europe with American soldiers deployed in the First World War. It eventually killed 50 million people and spread all over Europe, but because Spain was neutral and its press relatively free, the reports of mass death started there, and the name stuck. Perhaps it was not coincidental that the swarthiest of European nations got its name appended to the worst modern plague—but then again, syphilis was “the French disease” to English speakers, “the Italian disease” to the French, and “the Christian disease” to Arabs. There is nothing new or particularly interesting about the urge to name a disease as if it were a visitor from a foreign land.
First UK prisoner tests positive
ReplyDeleteThe first prisoner to be diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK has been confirmed.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the prisoner is serving their sentence at HMP Manchester and is currently in hospital. He adds that no other prison staff or prisoners have tested positive, but 13 prisoners and four members of staff have been put into isolation as a precaution.
Big impact on uk workforce.
ReplyDeleteSchools in England to close from Friday for all pupils except the vulnerable and those with key worker parents
In the Commons Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, has just started making a statement.
It coincides with the PM’s press conference, which is about to start, because yesterday the Speaker complained about the economic rescue package being announced at a press conference, not to the Commons first.
Williamson says it is time to act on school closures.
He says the balance of risk has changed.
And schools are struggling to stay open.
Williamson says schools in England will remain closed from Friday until further notice.
But the children of key workers, and children who are vulnerable, will be able to stay.
He says key workers included NHS staff, the police and delivery drivers.
And he says children who are vulnerable will include children with education, health and care plans.
He says he expects colleges, and private schools to do the same.
And he says he will put in place a voucher scheme to make up for free school meals.
Latest from Napo:-
ReplyDeleteC19 – Napo in communication with NPS, CRC, HMPPS and Cafcass senior leaders
As you would expect, Napo is currently engaged with senior leaders across the above employers to ascertain their advice in response to yesterday’s Government statement on Social Distancing in the campaign to combat the Coronavirus.
Clearly this has caused concern amongst our membership and that of our sister unions, with whom we are also in regular communication. Our members valuable work within Probation and Cafcass involves a proportionately higher requirement for face to face contact with clients than just about any other profession. We wanted to let you know that we acknowledge your concerns, and that the Napo team are working flat out at the moment in analysing information and we will issue any additional advice to members once we are in a position to do so. The Napo leadership team are also in regular discussion with the General Secretary to ensure that everything is being done to ensure business continuity for Napo HQ.
Whilst we fully appreciate that members have a range of legitimate questions we must ask that you refrain from sending e-mail or making telephone calls into Napo HQ as this is taking up valuable time as we seek to secure answers.
Yours in solidarity
Ian Lawrence Siobhan Foreman
General Secretary National Vice-Chair
Are probation staff included in frontline staff for school provision??
ReplyDeleteFrom the Express.
DeleteThe Government has not yet said who group of workers will be in this situation, however, those defined as key workers generally include:
Clinical National Health Service staff (except doctors and dentists)
Teachers and nursery nurses
Police officers, Community Support Officers and some civilian police staff
Prison officers and some other Prison staff
Probation Service staff
Social workers, educational psychologists, and therapists
Local Authority Planners
Firefighters
Connexions Personal Advisers
Some Ministry of Defence personnel
Environmental Health Officer
Highway Agency Traffic Officers
Because of the coronavirus outbreak it is likely people working in supermarkets and pharmacies will be classified as key workers as well.
I like how probation got a mention on the One Show as key workers. It would seem we exist in a crisis! Although, not clear what role we will play. When our own and other agencies lack resources such as staff.
DeleteIf the government does agree to release prisoners early they are going to need housing so they don't end up homeless and fall prey to the virus. They are also going to need more than the £46 discharge grant available to them and benefits on day one of release. But as HMP seems incapable of organisaing anything properly or on time, if the govt does decide to release a lot of prisoners all at once it's going to cause absolute havoc if it isn't done properly and may well cause more needless deaths
ReplyDelete"we must ask that you refrain from sending e-mail or making telephone calls into Napo HQ as this is taking up valuable time"
ReplyDelete£20+ per month for what?
Yes Napo HQ only interested in their positions not members. They want to take the money but are slow to respond to anything and roll over frequently.
Delete20+ for what. For letters stating best that can achieved. Nodding the management not to make any fuss. Lost judicial review. Dysfunctional AGM reduced membership . Lost representation strength and fails to support its members. Takes massive salaries in comparison to our rates and the have free travel and avoid any notable evidenced working. That's a lot of nothing for 20 + how do they do it.
DeleteI'm just loving the juxtaposition of Mandelson offering commentary about Cummings; no irony required!
ReplyDeletebbc two tonight 9pm - also on iplayer when you choose
Indeed! :)
DeleteThat was scary
DeleteVery disturbed by today's experiences - clear evidence that wealthy southern folk are temporarily relocating to the north to escape the developing horrors of COVID-19. Today I overheard several observations from the cuckoos:
ReplyDelete"Set off early this morning; can't stand it down there anymore; everyone's wearing masks; there's nothing left in the shops; haven't seen toilet rolls on shelves for a week; you can't go anywhere; its a Chinese conspiracy to weaken our country..."
The more-than-likely-infected, cash-rich, me-me-me shitheads are relocating to the holiday facilities (cottages, hotels, etc) of northern england (and beyond) for 2/3/4 weeks. Pubs, restaurants, supermarkets & cafes were ridiculously busy. Today! The selfish class are proving themselves more selfish than ever imagined.
London is said to be facing imminent lockdown.
Deletehttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/18/london-coronavirus-lockdown-tougher-measures
Apparently, there are videos being shown on social media of an army convey heading south on the M6!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/joeydurso/army-lockdown-london-coronavirus-fake-news
DeleteText messages and pictures have been spreading rapidly on WhatsApp on Wednesday claiming that the British army has been deployed on the streets of London ahead of a lockdown to fight coronavirus. However, there is no evidence of the military being used to impose a lockdown, nor are there any known plans for that to happen.
DeleteMultiple Londoners said on Wednesday that they received WhatsApp messages about the "lockdown". Some contained only text while others were accompanied by images apparently showing “evidence that the UK military are on the way to enforce a lockdown”.
The misleading and fake messages came as prime minister Boris Johnson said he would not hesitate to take stricter measures to stop the spread of coronavirus as ministers considered a lockdown in London, where the number of cases far outrstrips the rest of the country.
BuzzFeed News understands that further proposals for how to enforce social distancing in London have been under discussion at the top of government on Wednesday, but no final decision had been taken.
Although there are no signs of an “army lockdown” in the UK, the rumour is not a totally wild one — other European countries have implemented similar measures in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
France is under a 15-day lockdown, with police patrolling the streets and issuing fines for people who are outside without a written declaration to explain why.
With the world gripped by a deadly pandemic and more drastic measures being announced by governments every day, it is increasingly hard to tell between facts and hoaxes.
“Whatever It Takes”, in the probation world means:
ReplyDeleteProbation workers are expected to put themselves at risk.
Social distancing is not being applied in probation offices.
Probation workers have not been provided with gloves, masks and hand sanitiser.
Probation workers have not been sent home despite the advice to work from home.
Probation offices have not closed despite countless reports of staff and service users infected and self-isolating.
Probation workers are classed as keyworkers despite probation NOT being an emergency or essential service.
Conclusion: Schools are closing. Public transport is reducing. The UK is grinding to a halt. Many probation workers will get sick waiting for probation bosses pull their heads out of the sand. It’s time to pack up, go home, keep safe, keep families safe.
^^^ everyone needs to read this !
DeleteAnd this is why many are sending e-mail or making telephone calls into Napo HQ (who does nothing)
DeleteWell said 2258. Apparently the parole board have demanded an officer attend an oral hearing in person despite the person having to use public transport, why are management allowing this kind of demand instead of saying no I have a duty of care to staff. Playing Russian roulette with our health.
DeleteI AM ABSOLUELY FUMING AT LACK OF ACTION FROM NAPO. AND NO I WON'T BE TAKING THE CAPS OFF.
DeleteAS AN ADDENDUM TO 06:11 POST. THE REASON WHY PROBATION STAFF WINT BE CLASSED AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS IS WHO ELSE IS GOING TO SUPERVISE SERVICE USERS WHEN THE GIVETNEMENT STARTS TO KICK YHRM OUT OF THEIR PRISON SENTENCES EARLIER.
DeleteI'm just guessing, but I'm pretty sure that the number of of service users attending probation appointments will start to fall dramatically.
DeleteA call to 111 claiming virus symptoms, and advice to self isolate?
You don't have to be Norman Stanley Fletcher to see how that one's going to work.
Demanding someone attends in those circumstances could carry legal connotations.
Perhaps that's something POs should be given advice on?
Just guessing is all.
'Getafix
That's about right they will want to avoid legal issues if offenders stop reporting but so sure of their control over staff that they don't care about legal implications if we refuse to not practice social distancing and argue to work from home. It will be discipline time I'll bet.
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