Covid-19 Virus

Without question the survey asks about the whole package and then the elements.

The question on pay is repeated, but clearly that’s an error. It’s not closing off other options or asking the same question in a different way. What possible purpose does that repetition serve?

Your presentation of the survey is quite shockingly biased. It’s quite clear that if members did not support action on the claim at this time that they could indicate this.

 

What has the Government done to engage with the unions? How did it get to this?

You don’t know and you don’t care. You don’t even ask the question.

 

Anyway. Can’t you lot take your anti-union hatred to the politics section and leave this for general discussion of the virus and fight against it?

 

You said "Members are not asked the same question twice as he has edited out that the second question asks for views on the elements of the above." implying that I was being dishonest. You were wrong, as you now believe it was a mistake by the union, so just apologise.

But I fully admit that I didn't copy and paste all the other PCS propaganda, why should I. it's a disgrace? But I did post the link and highlighted it in red, for anyone that wants to read it. I was being completely honest, including the preamble that clearly shows their determination to cash in on the coronavirus tragedy.

Instead of asking about a pay rise twice, why didn't they find out of there was support for holding off the pay claim until all this had calmed down, instead of using it as an opportunity? After all, the members they were addressing all had protected salaries, without the furloghing, and lost jobs, and reduced income that others were having to go through.

 

So anti Boris and anti government posts in this thread are fine, but anti union posts are way out of line.

 

Happy to.

Here's something different to discuss then. First results from the pilot stage of an ONS/Oxford University survey to check how many people have Covid-19 based on actual swabs were released on Sunday:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...aviruscovid19infectionsurvey/england10may2020

It's early days - and only checks who currently has the virus, not if it's been and gone - but this should provide useful data for the government on the spread of Covid-19. I don't think I've seen much about this in the media, presumably because Boris' big set piece overshadowed it.

 

All surveys are bias. The responses are shaped by the questions.

But the question on pay does provide the opportunity for members to say it is not important right now. They can simply give it a low score. There is no reason or benefit to presenting the same question twice so it's obviously a typo.

If it is still important to the union's members then why shouldn't the union pursue it? Should they ignore their member's instructions?

You may find it distasteful at this time, and I don't necessarily disagree, but surely what the union does is down to what their members want isn't it?

 

Thread derailling is not fine. If this keeps up people are going to get fed up.

People are bound to discuss the Government’s messaging and advice. But these more in-depth discussions will blank everything else out. That’s why there is the politics section.

 

I know, that's what I said and take issue with. I don't see why headteachers and their staff can't plan on a local basis for the return proposed by the government for 1 June? There's a lot of big changes in the DfE guidance and time is of the essence. It leaves the clear impression the teaching unions can't influence government policy so intend to frustrate it instead. Plus surely planning locally will highlight what's feasible and what isn't, rather than taking a dogmatic approach which presumes it's all bad/impossible/dangerous?

 

Yes a perfectly fair question. Would you like us to negotiate more money for you while we feel we have a strong hand or are you not bothered. Wonder what the answer will be ?

 

If I were in a union, paying my fees, I would want their advice/opinion on what to do. And, if I were uncomfortable in what my employer was asking me to do then I would take comfort in the ability to say "I won't do that until I get my union's advice" and know that I will get their backing.

I am sure many teachers, including NEU members, will be confident in their Head and board of governors and will have good H&S in place. But those that are not should have their unions support as that is what they pay them for.

I'm not clear what else a union should do especially if they claim that the government are not engaging with them to address their concerns.

 

My opinion, the antigen test (whether you have the virus) is fairly pointless exercise as you can test negative but then contract it after the test.

The antibody test (whether you've had it) is the more important one and isn't carried out as extensively.

 

I see petrol is being sold by Morrison's at less than a £ per litre. Shame my car has had a full tank for about a month.

 

Like I said, I don't find it particularly tasteful. But it's not my opinion that is relevant to the union it's it's their members they should be listening to.

And the leverage works both ways. Some less than moral employers could use the threat of unemployment as a way of avoiding previously agreed pay rises or even forcing pay cuts.

Everyone has an agenda and I don't think either side can be exclusively demonised.

 

I noted the figure in the larger report. I had two reactions, which was that it’s a reassuringly low percentage, but also that 130k is a lot of seeding for a fresh crop.

Over the next few weeks, as people continue to follow fairly cautious guidelines that number should tumble to the level that track and trace can succeed.

There are a few big worries though. Care homes infecting back into the community and public transport spreading it around are two. And the idea that you can socialise with one friend is open for interpretation to put it mildly.

 

I think you need to read my post again zz. I mean, if saying the NEU is seeking to frustrate government policy because it can't influence it, directly questioning its stance and accusing it of acting dogmatically is 'pro union' in your books then I guess I'm guilty!

 

I think you've grasped the complete pointlessness of the 100K tests per day guff. To monitor the spread of the disease a person deeds to be repeatedly tested (possibly daily as it's so contagious). But all this tells us is that a contagious disease is rapidly testing. Fark knows what the benefits of the drive-in tests are, unless they're getting a system in place for widespread use of ...

This would also require some meaningful orm of contact tracing and mapping.

The entire testing programme has been a farce from day one.

 

But derailing the conversation is how his lord and master works. Why would the disciple work any differently?

 

Yes, sorry UEA, I had actually already deleted it my post having realised my error, hoping that nobody had read it!

 

This. As not allowed to travel more than a few miles, my plug-in hasn't used any fuel for 7 weeks now. Average fuel consumption for the last 220 miles is 999mpg.

 

You can meet a new person in the park every day, health sec says.

Is this the year the nation really takes dogging to its heart?

http://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...as-he-denies-new-rules-are-confusing-11986860

 

Met this girl on Monday
Met another one on Tuesday
The first one again on the Wednesday
And Thursday and Friday and Saturday
Intensive Care on Sunday

 

Dominic Raab goes on telly to say he's happy to meet anyone in the park. Now Hancock too. Jeez, they're certainly keeping up the oldest Westminster traditions.

 

Fair play to any MP that can both have sex in the park and keep social distance.

 

your haikus **** m8

 

Bloody haikus, coming over here giving us the virus.

 

Moving tribute by actor Rory Kinnear (son of TV actor Roy) to his sister who died after getting coronavirus.

https://www.theguardian.com/comment...r-protect-vulnerable-coronavirus-rory-kinnear

 

biased.

 

John Cooper Clark
Haiku.

To convey one's mood.
In seventeen syllables.
Is very diffic.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52617895

Thought it interesting to see an article being critical of the way the Scots have handled this Covid situation. It surprised me, as I thought you were only allowed to criticise how Boris and co have handled it? Seems like deaths have risen again in Scotland today as well.

 

Two things about Scotland, first of all Sturgeon conceded that the first cases were later than England's first cases and as such are a little bit behind the curve, secondly they are also getting death figures where the death happened weeks ago.

We will see little blips and all eyes will be on the slight easing of restrictions. The easing does need to take place because we can't have lock down until a vaccine is found as that may take years if ever, it will be interesting to see what restaurants are like in July and I guess by then we will still be seeing 50 deaths per day from it.

 

Restaurants pubs will probably be a lot like these:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/newsb...-how-sweden-is-keeping-its-pubs-and-bars-open
The problem is for a lot of restaurants and pubs it won’t be cost effective to operate like that. The one’s with large open spaces will probably be ok with decent weather, but that might be difficult to plan for. It least it shows it can be done though.

 

You may be interested to know that there are newspapers that cover Scotland and TV too. Presumably they were interested in the Scottish Government's performance?

And you can criticise it all you like. Just identify, like the article did, things that could have been done better. But how much they will have done wrong doesn't really change what Boris and co did.

 

Nice and patronising, like it Moose. Maybe I should be a little clearer and say: Thought it interesting to see an article being critical of the way the Scots have handled this Covid situation on the BBC website.

 

The antibody test (whether you've had it) is the more important one and isn't carried out as extensively.[/QUOTE]

Problem is we don't know what the results mean. We don't know about reinfection mechanisms, we don't know whether different antibody levels correlate to different levels of immunity if at all, and we don't know whether immunity (if ever gained) wears over a time period or not.

It's difficult to implement rules and policies to free up the country when we don't have the information yet