[2021] Motion 05 Covid recovery and rehabilitation

Composited motion

Received from:

Congress notes that, over the last 18 months, the UK, along with the rest of the world, has faced, in Covid-19, a crisis like no other. While acknowledging the fantastic advances made by vaccination and treatment, the pandemic is not yet over and will continue to affect the daily and working lives of the UK’s population for years to come.

As a trade union movement we will continue to mourn and to honour all those who have lost their lives to Covid-19. Alongside this, we will need to redouble our efforts on behalf of those Covid-19 survivors who experience long-term effects. These will be both health-related and economic and will have an impact not only on individuals but also on the wider UK economy and world of work.

Congress congratulates the TUC on its work to date on Covid-19 and the workplace, including on health and safety at work, financial support and long covid.

Further to this, Congress calls on the General Council to:

i. continue to campaign for both Covid and long covid to be recognised as industrial diseases, with appropriate loss of earnings compensation

ii. join calls for a ‘right to rehabilitation’ and the investment needed to deliver it, for those requiring rehabilitation after Covid-19 as well as others whose needs have not been met or have worsened as a result of the pandemic.

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Amendment

Insert new paragraph 3:
“Congress recognises the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health as well as physical health, contributing to significant pressure on local services.”

Add new sub-paragraph iii. at end:

“iii. lobby for a significant increase in funding for mental health services and improved access for all individuals at the point of need.”

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

Amendment

Add new sub-paragraph iii. at end:

“iii. campaign for staff wellbeing and recovery, including access for frontline staff to mental health and psychological wellbeing services.”

Royal College of Midwives