Frightening front page: we've gone swiftly from "take it on the chin, no cruises" to "death industry overwhelmed", lack of "body storage", powers for police + immigration officials to detain people who *might* be infected, yet testing remains slow + patchy
#Covid19 /1
#Covid19 /1
Powers for *police + immigration officials* to detain people suspected of having the virus yet we aren't investing in a proper testing regime. Risks of reinforcing bigotry and inciting further racist violence, while scientists tell us we need the data to inform responses /2
Relationships between how our government, media, and our own employers treat expertise are worth examining closely in the #Covid19 media context...
Which science? Which data? Which analysis?
How long and for whom do they wait before ceasing attempts to "agile" game a pandemic /3
Which science? Which data? Which analysis?
How long and for whom do they wait before ceasing attempts to "agile" game a pandemic /3
To paraphrase @PWGTennant + others it's like a bunch of reckless privileged people are gambling, playing chicken with HGV trucks, without due care and diligence for the communities this will devastate. /4
#Covid19 needed to be taken seriously *much* sooner, including by *universities*!
We might expect better of UK #HigherEd, for critical thinking + drawing on expertise... but we got a dearth of leadership on this issue just as we've seen on #UCUStrikes
/5
We might expect better of UK #HigherEd, for critical thinking + drawing on expertise... but we got a dearth of leadership on this issue just as we've seen on #UCUStrikes
/5
Yesterday @UCU NEC passed key policy on #COVID_19uk, calling on unis + colleges to close, to ensure *all* staff are properly protected + *nobody* suffers financial detriment. If working from home is impossible (eg caring duties) ppl still need paid. Wfh costs must be supported /6
This isn't good enough UUK👇
+ though credit where it's due in some HEIs for ending face to face teaching / closing, are all staff getting reassurance that they will be supported, paid, not expected to expose themselves to risks? My inbox tells me *not* /7
+ though credit where it's due in some HEIs for ending face to face teaching / closing, are all staff getting reassurance that they will be supported, paid, not expected to expose themselves to risks? My inbox tells me *not* /7
So we have a government embarking on an experiment, inadequate sick pay, people scared they'll be penniless/homeless by *necessary* health measures + impending police powers meaning BIPOC are even more terrified under the #HostileEnvironment than before /8
We have an HE sector flapping in the marketised wind over what to do, the latest update from the Association of Colleges on #Covid19 seems to be 4 March (aoc.co.uk/news/coronavir…) -since they've tweeted a link to a government helpline, + prison workers scared of being locked in/9
Some recent announcements tie to worries over "future #Covid19 peaks" but we *have* to drastically slow the current, building peak right now: our health service will be carnage otherwise. Staff are worrying about basic PPE! /10 huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coronavi…
We need to negotiate *this* current crisis to be in any position to navigate any further peaks. @UCU must model an approach that ensures democracy is upheld while our health is protected. The trade union movement must come together to model how we protect lives + democracy /11
Yesterday's @UCU NEC agreed there needs to be an online VP hustings because restrictions on large gatherings are needed, but we *do* need to be able to ask candidates questions. This has to happen. Congress is due to be in May and the timing of it is surely now in question /13
Recognising issues like server + service capacity for online organising to be addressed, the trade union movement needs to come together on issues of democracy + social support. We need to stay accessible + open. We need to be responsible, responsive, and lead in this crisis. /14
@threadreaderapp please unroll
