Mitigating measures could include the use of screens, personal protective equipment (PPE), and access to testing, as well as sitting side by side or back to back
As a follow up to the article below: we published a blog from our General Secretary Horace Trubridge, fully explaining what we mean by a safe return to work, and addressing the valid concerns of many of our members following a recent article published on BBC news.
We are also discussing social distancing at work and, where social distancing isn’t possible, the implementation of other mitigating measures that are already allowed for in existing Government guidelines.
Such mitigating measures could include the use of screens, personal protective equipment (PPE), and access to testing, as well as sitting side by side or back to back.
The latter was the focus of a recent BBC News item which missed out on many of the nuances of the conversations we are having with employers, industry bodies, Government and health and safety experts about a safe return to work for MU members.
Representing MU members at the Government level
On Tuesday 9 June, MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge will be giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on COVID-19's impact on theatre and live performance.
Horace will be focussing on musicians who have fallen through the gaps of the Government’s financial assistance schemes, as well as discussing what help will be required in order to allow all musicians to safely go back to work.
The MU also sits on two of the Government’s COVID-19 working groups – including the Entertainment & Events group. At the most recent meeting, the focus was on how theatres and venues would be able to re-open whilst social distancing remained necessary.
Find out more about what a return to work might look like for musicians working in all sectors in the music industry with MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl's latest blog post, Next Steps: Picturing Possibilities for the Return to Work.