Mental Health in a Covid World

Our Ref: HSR/1/19
Head Office Circular: NP/313/21
20th August 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL SHIPPING BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

MENTAL HEALTH IN A COVID WORLD

Your 2021 National Health and Safety Advisory Conference carried the following resolution:

This Branch notes that the subject of this year’s conference is again Mental Health but also includes the role of safety representatives in the COVID pandemic, this is most appropriate given the current pandemic and the certain effect of the lockdowns on the mental health and wellbeing of our members. We are also aware that one of the supposed initial super spreader events occurred on the day of this conference last year in Edinburgh.

We are also acutely aware of various instances where mental health has been missed within the various discussions around COVID and also the fact that the mental health issue is perhaps being used as a smokescreen to alter ways of working and perhaps cover up deficiencies within the employer’s business including COVID-19 issues. We must not fall into any traps that could well be hidden within the makeup of the Rail Industry Recovery Group that was set up recently, there is absolutely no room for collaboration with bosses at this time more so where the make-up of the employer’s side is predominantly from organisations and people we have had issues with since the onset of privatisation. Our members must have our full support in these trying times when stress and strain will be brought to bear on their Mental Health & Wellbeing.

This H&S conference calls upon the NEC to conduct a survey of all employers we have recognition with as to what measures they have in place to protect the mental health and wellbeing of our members. Secondly using the results of that survey conduct a survey of membership to see what knowledge is out there of these procedures and how effective they may be for our members. The results of these surveys to be shared with and discussed by members from the Health & Safety Advisory Committee in conjunction with the NEC.

There are anomalies within agreements set up by the original RICF that are still to be debated at the reconvened AGM let’s not continue on the same road, we must also remember that the RICF chair was reluctant to deal with an issue due to the myriad and complexities of agreements at company level yet he now wants to get involved in these. The loss of any work can and will impact greatly on Mental Health we cannot allow this to happen, this conference further calls on the NEC to instruct that any negotiations under this forum must take full cognisance of all our campaigns and policies especially those around protection of jobs we must not alter any of these strategies they must be encompassed into any agreements made. This will not be an easy task given the make-up of the group being heavily weighted towards employers.

This conference also notes that this group is for the Rail Industry the NEC should also instruct the General Secretary to look at what is happening within all sectors we organise in; these members must also be afforded the same as far as organising for post COVID recovery and job retention is concerned as their Mental Health and Wellbeing is equally important.

At its meeting on 17th August, 2021, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

We welcome this resolution from RMT National Health and Safety Advisory Conference and the focus of the resolution on the impact that Covid-19 has had and will continue to have on the mental health of RMT members.

We recognise that when employers threaten job cuts this will impact the mental health of our members.

As the full impact of the Corona virus pandemic is felt the coming months will see unprecedented attacks on the jobs and terms and conditions and we will do everything necessary to fight such attacks and their impact on the mental health of our members.
RMT involvement in the RIRG is predicated on the principal of a Job Security Agreement to cover the whole rail industry that defends jobs and maintains pay, conditions and agreements and of No Compulsory Redundancies.
As in the resolution the General Secretary is instructed to conduct a survey of all employers where we have recognition to find out what measures they have in place to protect the mental health and wellbeing of RMT member and to use the results of the survey to survey RMT members to see what knowledge there is of employers mental health procedures and how effective they are for our members.
The General Secretary to remind all members of the charities the RMT engage with, including Mind and in Scotland, SAMH, who they can contact for support if in need of health, support or advice as regards mental health issues.
The results of these surveys to be shared with and discussed the RMT Health & Safety Advisory Committee in conjunction with the NEC.

Separate and distinct from the above is a current campaign by the Maritime Lead Officer and the RMT Health and Safety Officer which is a distinct campaign recognising the problems faced by Maritime members. We thank the Officers for their work in promoting the importance of mental health in the maritime sector - including a recent survey of Maritime members.

Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.

Your 2021 National Health and Safety Advisory Conference also carried the following resolution:

Branch notes that the subject of this year’s conference is again Mental Health but also includes the role of safety representatives in the COVID pandemic, this is most appropriate given the current pandemic and the certain effect of the lockdowns on the mental health and wellbeing of our members. We are also aware that one of the supposed initial super This spreader events occurred on the day of this conference last year in Edinburgh.
We are also acutely aware of various instances where mental health has been missed within the various discussions around COVID and also the fact that the mental health issue is perhaps being used as a smokescreen to alter ways of working and perhaps cover up deficiencies within the employer’s business including COVID-19 issues. We must not fall into any traps that could well be hidden within the makeup of the Rail Industry Recovery Group that was set up recently, there is absolutely no room for collaboration with bosses at this time more so where the make-up of the employer’s side is predominantly from organisations and people we have had issues with since the onset of privatisation. Our members must have our full support in these trying times when stress and strain will be brought to bear on their Mental Health & Wellbeing.
There are anomalies within agreements set up by the original RICF that are still to be debated at the reconvened AGM let’s not continue on the same road, we must also remember that the RICF chair was reluctant to deal with an issue due to the myriad and complexities of agreements at company level yet he now wants to get involved in these. The loss of any work can and will impact greatly on Mental Health we cannot allow this to happen, this conference further calls on the NEC to instruct that any negotiations under this forum must take full cognisance of all our campaigns and policies especially those around protection of jobs we must not alter any of these strategies they must be encompassed into any agreements made. This will not be an easy task given the make-up of the group being heavily weighted towards employers.
This conference also notes that this group is for the Rail Industry the NEC should also instruct the General Secretary to look at what is happening within all sectors we organise in. Within the Maritime sector depression is widespread. Working hours can be as bad as a 14hr split shift with the law offering little protection. You could legally be asked to have a 4- or 6-hour break in any contributing 24-hour period. Long trips away from loved ones can be difficult if you are already suffering. Ships can be a lonely place and individuals can feel isolated without friends and family. Quite often the combination of being away, fatigue and mental health issues can be enveloping and debilitating. On vessels and installations, it is difficult to rest due to work and home often being the same place.
Our members within the bus industry must be on the front line every day and are exposed to infection regularly. Anxiety brought on by this fact causes mental health deterioration on a scale that our generation have never witnessed. These members must also be afforded the same as far as organising for post COVID recovery and job retention is concerned as their Mental Health and Wellbeing is equally important.
This H&S conference therefore calls upon the NEC to conduct a survey of all employers we have recognition with as to what measures they have in place to protect the mental health and well-being of our members. Secondly using the results of that survey conduct a survey of membership to see what knowledge is out there of these procedures and how effective they may be for our members. The results of these surveys to be shared with and discussed by members from the Health & Safety Advisory committee in conjunction with the NEC to ascertain current best practise and develop a strategy for providing the help and assistance necessary to help our members combat the widely acknowledged increased prevalence of mental health issues in a post pandemic world.

At its meeting on 17th August, 2021, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

We note the resolution from RMT National Health and Safety Advisory Conference.

The General Secretary is instructed to link this file with the main file (Mental Health in a Covid World (1)) for regular reviews of what RMT is doing in this area.

Branches and Regional Councils to be advised.

I am acting in accordance with these instructions. Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members.

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary