Hospitality workers face dangerous journeys

With city streets full of far right demonstrators and counter protests businesses have been closing up early. They are understandably worried about damage to property and concerned over staff safety, but it has never been more important that employers ensure that workers get home safely.

For some years now Unite has been running its “Get Me Home Safely” Campaign. This has highlighted the risks faced by workers, primarily women workers in the hospitality sector, who rely on public transport to get home after a late night shift at work.

But if a workplace is closing early due to concerns that there may be rioting in the area then they have a duty of care to ensure staff are provided with the means to get home safely.

Get Me Home Safely is a joint campaign developed between Unite’s Passenger and Hospitality sectors and supported by Unite’s Equality department and its various committees. 

The background to its development was rooted on a concern for the safety of women who work late and unsocial hours, particularly those in low paid jobs who cannot afford taxi travel home and rely on buses and other forms of public transport which are often scarce or simply unavailable after midnight. 

This becomes even more hazardous as public transport often grinds to a halt if roads are blocked by demonstrations.

Unite’s Lead Organiser for the sector Bryan Simpson said: “This is an incredibly worrying time for hospitality staff, particularly those working in hotels targeted by the far right. As the most diverse sector in the British and Irish economies, a large proportion of our members being black, Asian or migrant workers are particularly vulnerable.” 

“Staff should not be scared when travelling to and from work and we would recommend that anyone concerned about how to get home speak to their colleagues to collectively push for paid transport home through the Get Me Home Safely campaign.  They should insist that all staff are provided with a safe means of transport home, and raise this with their Unite Rep or Officer if there is a problem.”

Unite would also suggest that all employers sign up to the Get Me Home Safely Campaign going forward.

You can find out more about the Get Me Home Safely campaign here.

Unite has also produced a briefing for members on the campaign.  

By Keith Hatch