Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Long Covid

Session

2020-2021

Meeting link

Annual Congress

Meeting date

29 May 2021

Status

Passed

Motion

5

Motion text

Congress notes:
1. estimates indicate 10-20% of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop complex Long Covid conditions
2. many of those are unable to return to work, or experience significant limitations on what they are able to do when returning
3. the TUC has noted that Long Covid disproportionately affects women, in particular black, disabled and migrant women.
Congress believes:
a. restrictive sick leave regulations and rule-bound occupational health determinations often make things worse
b. many return to work too early for economic reasons
c. Long Covid is likely to disproportionately impact some groups, and hence further exacerbate inequalities in pay, employment contracts, and promotion
Congress resolves to:
i. strengthen existing UCU guidance for branches on how they can proactively support those with Long Covid (including adequate leave and/or workload adjustments, without detriment to careers)
ii. demand from employers that risks of Long Covid are acknowledged and accommodated in return-to-campus policy and procedures
iii. foster solidarity between UCU and other trade unions campaigning around Long Covid's impact on workers
iv. negotiate with employers that for the duration of the outbreak certificates will not be needed for periods of absence up to 14 days, that self-certification will suffice. Employers with occupational sick pay schemes should agree that sickness absence or isolation will be disregarded in respect of pay reduction triggers. This has been agreed with several employers.

Proposing body

University of Glasgow

Amended

Yes

Allocated to

Equality committee

Notes