Mask Calls Return and Workers Must Stand Together with the Workers of England Union

Here We Go Again...

It has been more than five years since the Covid lockdowns, yet it increasingly feels as though the authorities have not forgotten how much control they held over the public.

As we enter a difficult flu season, the UK Health Security Agency is once again urging people to wear face masks whenever they feel unwell or expect to be in busy indoor spaces. Many workers are asking the same question: are we heading back toward Covid-style restrictions?

The current pressures appear real. A mutated influenza A H3N2 strain is spreading quickly. Hospitals are reporting ten times as many flu patients as the same period two years ago. Admissions among the over-85s have doubled in a week.

Hospitals Reintroducing Mask Rules

NHS England’s chief executive Sir Jim Mackey has warned that pressures could mirror what was seen during the Covid years, with flu patients occupying between 5,000 and 8,000 beds every day.

Several hospitals in London, Lincolnshire, Shropshire and Oxfordshire have already reinstated mandatory masking inside their buildings. Officials claim masks can reduce the number of virus-containing particles released by people who are unwell and offer some protection for the wearer.

The UKHSA insists this is only guidance, not a mandate. But workers across England know how quickly “guidance” becomes pressure in real workplaces. Employers often push staff to comply with whatever keeps them out of trouble.

Workers Remember What Happened Last Time

During the Covid period many workers faced disciplinary action, unfair treatment and heavy-handed policies. In that climate, the Workers of England Union was the only Trade Union that stood up for workers who wanted their rights respected.

While others stayed silent or aligned themselves with government messaging, the WEU defended members who felt pushed, intimidated or ignored.

Rising Infections Mean Rising Employer Pressure

We may now be entering a similar period of uncertainty. Higher infections mean tougher workplace expectations. Mask rules, attendance disputes, sickness policies and workplace restrictions will all become flashpoints again.

Workers cannot face this alone. They need a Trade Union prepared to defend their rights without hesitation.

Statement from the Workers of England Union

Stephen Morris, General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, said:

“This is why every member must encourage colleagues to join the Workers of England Union. When public health messaging grows stronger, workers need a Trade Union that is stronger still.

Together we can ensure that guidance does not become coercion and that employment rights remain firmly protected.

No one should face the coming winter without support. Joining the Workers of England Union (WEU) means standing with the only Trade Union that stood by workers when it mattered before — and we are prepared to do so again.”

(Sources include the UK Health Security Agency winter virus guidance, NHS England statements on current flu admissions, and reporting from The Guardian, Sky News, and The Times.)