Energy and utility employees should be classed as ‘key workers’ so that they can keep power, gas and water supplies running smoothly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Unite union has urged the UK government.
Unite, whose membership base includes “tens of thousands” of staff employed by energy and utilities businesses, has asked Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) secretary Alok Sharma to guarantee that energy and utility workers are included in the ‘key worker’ category.
This would mean energy and utility workers would be immediately on the list of those whose children would be provided with access to schools, while the majority of schools remain shut indefinitely.
Unite national officer for energy and utilities Peter McIntosh said: “Our members are 100% committed to do whatever it takes to maintain energy and water supplies to UK consumers and businesses at this time of national emergency. This is especially true of vital public services, such as the NHS.
“But we believe that workers in the energy and utility sectors deserve reassurance that, while they are working 24/7 to keep energy and water supplies running smoothly, their children are being well-looked after in a school setting, so they don’t have that extra worry.
“We don’t believe that’s an unreasonable request – and we will be pressing the business secretary Alok Sharma to guarantee this as soon as possible.
“In the meantime, Unite is proactively in contact with energy producers and suppliers, as well as with the water industry, to ensure that the lights remain on and the water continues to flow.
“It goes without saying that all essential services, including the NHS, rely on energy and utilities to function – we are firmly committed to seeing that continues to happen in the weeks ahead.”
Unite members are in fixed workplaces, such as nuclear power generation plants as well as contact centres dealing with customer calls and mobile services carrying out maintenance and repairs.