UNISON, NEU and UCU call for CCCG management:

Protect students and staff: Make our learning environment safe 

We note that the DfE has said of colleges: 

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  Further Education (FE) creates connectivity between multiple organisations and could amplify local transmission. It is highly likely that there will be outbreaks associated with FE, and asymptomatic transmission may make these harder to detect.  
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  A significant risk associated with FE is the potential to facilitate wider transmission between households and workplace settings, by providing greater connectivity within a community.’ 

According to Johns Hopkins University the UK has the fourth highest death rate per 100,000 in the world. 
 
The CEO, Roy O’Shaughnessy, has affirmed that our Local London Authorities predict that if the trajectory stays as it is then local infection rates within the next two to three weeks will rise significantly.   

Currently the 16-24 age group (a major proportion of our student cohorts) is showing the fastest rise in infection rates across the country. 

We are an aging and diverse staff group with many in vulnerable categories and living with and/or caring for a person in a vulnerable category. 

Doreen Lawrence’s report (An Avoidable Crisis) concludes that structural racism has led to minority ethnic people being overexposed, under protected, stigmatised and overlooked. 

As front-line workers we should not be expected to risk our lives to teach and support teaching. 
 
In line with UCU & NEU’s calls to the government for education to be part of the second four-week lockdown, we call on the College Group to: 

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  Immediately stop all plans to reduce the number of lessons that are taught on line.
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  Move a significant number of classes online immediately (at least up to 50%).  
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  Allow all staff in vulnerable categories and all staff who live with a person in a vulnerable category to be able to teach online with full pay immediately (including all staff who are 60 years or over). 
• 
  Reopen the Marlborough and the Regents Park cites for teaching and other purposes to allow more social distancing measures to be put in place.