The Grenada Public Workers’ Union (GPWU) representing Public Sector Workers, is expressing concern over what it says is a frightening challenging period being faced in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially where a vast majority of its members are working daily on the frontline.
It refers to the geographic spread of COVID19 which it says is now extremely grievous to workers, who must expose themselves more to travel to and from work, by public transportation on a daily basis.
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The PWU is asking for particular attention to be given to the issue; to healthcare professionals, Community Nurses and doctors who are in direct contact with positive clients, performing rapid and PCR testing, doing contact tracing, comforting and counseling.
Due to increased numbers of positive cases and contact tracings, the PWU sees its workers are now faced with a heavy workload, which can result in what it says is serious
physical exhaustion, impaired physiological needs and tremendous stress, and other psychological problems.
With the understanding that one of their members on the frontline is infected, the PWU calls for recommendations which it said it had made along with TAWU earlier this year to safeguard workplace Occupational Safety and Health, to be implemented.
The PWU calls for the provision of appropriate quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) at all times and that there be no discrimination in this regard.
GPWU also calls for special transportation to be quickly provided for health care workers, so that they are sufficiently isolated and afforded a greater level of protection
