Calls to work from home must be backed by legislation

Unions must be involved in any review of extreme weather responses

Trade union Unite, which organises workers throughout the economy, today (Sunday) said that last week’s torrential rain and flooding again highlighted the need for legislation to protect workers’ health, safety and incomes during and in the aftermath of extreme weather events.

Unite recently launched a new policy toolkit, In the Eye of the Storm. The document includes a summary of responses to a survey of Unite members carried out in the wake of Storm Éowyn last January together with a set of proposals designed to protect workers’ during extreme weather events. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Workers are quite literally in the eye of the storm. If the government is serious about ensuring worker safety it must ensure that unions are fully involved in any review of extreme weather responses. It must legislate to protect workers”.

 Last month was Dublin’s second-wettest January on record, and there is a scientific consensus that accelerating climate change is to blame for more frequent and severe extreme weather events. Following Storm Chandra, the Taoiseach acknowledged the impact of climate change and stated that ‘we have to step change our resilience in respect of that’. 

Unite’s Irish secretary Susan Fitzgerald said: “Last week the National Emergency Coordination Group urged workers to avoid dangerous travel conditions by working from home – but Unite’s experience is that some workers who are forced to remain at home in the interests of safety could find themselves docked pay or forced to take a day’s leave. Workers need to be able to rely on mandatory Extreme Weather workplace policies backed by legislation”.