Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We have been inundated with serious concerns from our members in the Burnley warehouse about their health and safety during the Coronavirus outbreak. They are terrified they may become infected with coronavirus and put their loved ones at risk. Today’s news that the company is marketing fashion face masks, that experts say are absolutely no use as PPE, is a real slap in the face for our members.
 
“Selling fashion clothing is not essential in a period of national emergency, but selling items that look like essential equipment is downright scandalous. We share the disgust that healthcare staff have expressed in the media. At a time when they are desperate for PPE, along with many public facing staff delivering essential services, Boohoo should hang their heads in shame for this despicable stunt.
 
“Many other clothes manufacturers have turned away from their usual production and switched to making proper PPE items to help our heroes on the frontline of tackling the Coronavirus emergency. Boohoo is looking to make a quick profit out of a crisis, when they should be putting the national interest first by helping their staff to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
 
“We again call on the Government to review their advice to online non-essential retailers. Problems like this occur because contradictory Government advice encourages online retailers to carry on regardless, while telling non-essential workers to stay at home.
 
“Usdaw’s North West Divisional Officer Mike Aylward has written to Boohoo several times calling for them to close the warehouse for the safety of their employees and their families. To do the right thing by furloughing workers, under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and to top up the 80% grant so that staff continue to receive their full wages as normal. Today, following this disgraceful development, I too am writing to the company and the Government demanding urgent action.”
 
Usdaw is also making clear calls on employers to improve health and safety for people working in warehouse and distribution operations:

• Clear provisions for workers to keep at least 2 metres apart at all times, in line with Government guidance. This means that, for non-essential business, two-person delivery operations must cease with immediate effect.
• Full sick pay for those in vulnerable groups and for individuals who live with people in vulnerable groups.
• Additional sinks, provision of hand sanitiser for individuals and provision of cleaning equipment for all work stations.
• Increased hours for cleaning staff.
• Early shift finishes and guarantee of overtime payments where time spent leaving the site has increased due to queues adhering to social distancing.
• Staggered break times along with extra break rooms with adequate rest facilities and additional smoking areas to ensure social distancing.
• Flexibility and understanding around childcare issues in light of school closures.

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
Mirror - Boohoo slammed for making 'mockery' of PPE after selling fashion face masks: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boohoo-slammed-making-mockery-ppe-21890362
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion