Unite is launching a plan that recommends a range of legal protections for employees due to accelerating climate change.
The report said difficulties faced by workers in the aftermath of extreme weather events have been recognised in Spain. It said legislation was enacted providing for climate leave following devastating floods in Valencia last year.
“Unite is proposing that similar legislation be enacted in Ireland,” it said.
Michael Cullen of The Slaney Seach and Recue team on the flooded streets of Enniscorthy town centre after the river Slaney burst its banks following heavy rain from storm Chandra. Picture: Gerry Mooney
News in 90 seconds – Thursday 29th January
A union spokesperson said the report, ‘Workers in the Eye of the Storm’, marks the first anniversary of Storm Éowyn, which is referred to in the report.
“In addition to difficulty travelling to and from work due to fallen trees and power lines, many workers were dealing with a lack of power, gas and internet connections,” said the report.
“Over 750,000 homes and businesses lost power during the storm, with many waiting weeks for full resumption of services.”
The report said the union had a series of engagements with Stormont departments following the tragic death of its member, Matthew Campbell, while working during Storm Ali.
Unite’s report recommended four days paid climate leave, with the possibility of extending this until conditions improved.
It said leave should also be available if workers need to address issues including structural damage, a lack of childcare, or eldercare.
After four days, it said businesses should be able to access government supports as part of a package of “temporary suspension measures”.
“This week we witnessed Storm Chandra, the third named storm of the season,” said Unite Irish secretary Susan Fitzgerald.
“And it’s still only January.”
She said on Tuesday, workers were advised to delay travelling or work from home. She said advice must be backed up by clear regulations ensuring workers will not be penalised.
“Workers must not be forced to choose whether to risk their safety driving to work through floods, or to stay at home and risk losing a day’s pay,” she said.
The report said there is growing academic and scientific consensus that accelerating climate breakdown is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including extreme temperatures.
It recommended a legal requirement for workers to be paid as usual for the days in question if work stopped.
The report called for an “explicit prohibition” of any attempts to shift the cost of extreme weather events onto workers. These might include deducting pay, requiring workers to take leave, accrued flexitime or time off in lieu, it said. The union wants the protections extended to self-employed workers and “significant sanctions” for breaches.
It recommended a statutory obligation on employers to conduct extreme weather risk assessments and implement graduated alert-based responses. The report said non-essential outdoor work should end during amber alerts and all non-essential work during red alerts.
In relation to temperatures, it said people work best between 16C and 24C based on World Health Organisation data. It wants legislation to establish statutory maximum working temperatures. This would include an “action level” of 24C where health management controls must be put in place and “absolute maximum temperature” of 30C at which work should stop.