The Hospo Workers Union (HWU) is calling for greater attention to be paid to the health and safety of workers on May
Day, including a government supply of primary protective equipment to workers of all businesses operating during the
pandemic alert plan.
While we may have avoided a significant ‘first wave’ of COVID-19, many hospitality and other workers are now actually at
greater health and safety risk due to increased opportunity for exposure to COVID-19.
Zebedee Schrader, Secretary of the Hospo Workers Union and a hospitality worker in Wellington said, “After over a month
of cooking their own food, Kiwis are now re-discovering why our country is known for its culinary scene. As the crowds
outside restaurants have shown, hospitality is fast becoming a de facto essential service for Kiwis. It is important that hospo workers and businesses get the support they need to not put any
workers’ health at risk.”
The Hospo Workers Union has a small supply of PPE available to its members, but a comprehensive response requires a
government-level solution. Many restaurants are small, owner-operated businesses who cannot adequately source PPE which
is in already scarce supply.
“Prime Minister Ardern and the Government have been providing excellent leadership through these uncertain times and
ensuring Aoteaoa has the best response possible to the COVID-19 crisis. This has had great success, and we believe this
small measure simply makes our collective response even stronger. We need to have the backs of everyone on our
five-million strong team,” continued Schrader.
The Employment Relations Act 2000 provides a framework within which workers are allowed to take industrial action for
health and safety purposes. To ensure healthy and harmonious workplaces, the Government needs to do more to provide
workers and businesses, particularly in hospitality, with the protection required.