Thread by @helenessex2

🧵/13 I’m a cleaner. I want talk to the left about covid. I clean for biz but mostly domestic homes. I like to do a good job & leave a place near spotless. That means tackling dust, grime, dirt, mould & mildew, bodily excretions, pet dander to name a few. It can be grim.

2/13 i was cleaning b4 covid so I have that as a comparison. I want to talk to the left (you’d typically be my allies right? I’m working a low status insecure relative poor pay job?) bcs I feel abandoned & let down-if you consider yourself an ally to low paid pls read on🙏🏼

3/13 1st up: 😷. Do you think they’re a symbol of authoritarian control & they don’t work? Why? Who told you that? Baggy cloth/surgical masks ≠no they don’t offer full protection against an airborne virus but a respirator like trades have worn for decades since before covid do

4/13 Do you think masks shouldn’t be worn by carers, drs, nurses, teachers, TA’s, cleaners, bus drivers, bar staff, shop workers bcs it hampers communication & they’ll pass out from mouth germs, spots & lack of oxygen? Really? & why wear 1 when covid is over/harmless?

5/13 If I told you I wear ffp3 😷 both at work & whenever anywhere indoors would you think I’m brainwashed? Paranoid? A sheep? Scared? Fell foul of fear mongers? How about a hard no on that. I’d say I’m informed & protected. Ask yourself do your paymasters like you well informed?

6/13 back to tweet 1, picture the scene; several hrs/day I’m in homes& workplaces. Most my customers are OAP’s, disabled in some way or folks working long hours Think of all the dust alone around me in a day nvm the goop🤢since I wear a mask I cough less. I have less 💩 in my 🫁

7/13 Masked me=healthier me. When you’re low paid & self employed that =££. I haven’t had covid. I’ve lost loads of work & had higher churn of custom since covid bcs my customers keep getting sick from C19 & #COL impacts. Bcs I’ve not had covid, I haven’t had #LongCovid . Yet

8/13 So I’m here to represent for #cleaners & say all this anti 😷BS is actively harming ppl like me in #GigEconomy there’s no #SickPay for me.If you have a job & get sick pay is it enough? (Obvs no). If you get that then pls be an ally not a hater think about your own health too

9/13 Aside from personal benefit from wearing a mask know what else is good? My vulnerable customers haven’t caught covid from me. So if you have a cleaner think about that. I’ve helped protect my community. I care about my customers & their well being & their families. Shocker!

10/13 So please if you’re a #SocialistSunday at heart , if you’ve been chewed up & spat out by 💩 T&C’s, if you support #EnoughIsEnough please get educated about covid. 🙏🏼 understand it’s not just about your health & safety but every1 around you. Be an ally to #LongCovid @cv_cev

11/13 @carolvorders @OwenJones84 @CarolineLucas @GaryLineker @BylineTimes @eiecampaign @unisontheunion pls RT & support my 🧵 👆🏼here to represent #Cleaners & #gigeconomy 🙏🏼

12/13 want to know more about masks?: @claire_horwell @masknerd understand #CovidIsAirborne see @CleanAirClassrm @PeteUK7 @amandalhu understand #LongCovidAwareness see @LongCovidKids @LongCovidSOS @LCNMUK

13/end Ps in🇬🇧covid is still killing 100’s/wk, infecting 10’s of 1,000’s everyday, causing #LongCovid ( 2 million ppl) & many other emerging long term health probs. If you know #ToryGaslighting you know telling yourself it’s over & NBD is just u being swept up in #InfoWar right?