CAMPAIGN Toilet dignity WHEN HOLDING


Workers are being denied toilet access – uniteWORKS investigates


Using the loo is such a basic human activity that most of us take it for granted – whether at home, work, school, usually when we have to go, we can.


But for far too many workers in jobs such as driving and in construction, knowing that you can use the toilet when you need to is far from a foregone conclusion.


For these workers, not only is ‘holding on’ uncomfortable, but it also poses serious health risks, including bladder infections which may cause lasting damage to the kidneys and other parts of the body.


In some workplaces, access to toilets themselves is the main problem, while in others, it is employer control that forces workers to relinquish their dignity.


Late last year, Unite uncovered horrific practices at DPD, a parcel delivery company – workers at one of Europe’s largest parcel sorting facilities reported being required to ask permission to use the toilet, while some workers even alleged that their line managers would deny them this permission.


These work practices limiting access to toilets happened as managers demanded workers work harder and faster by bullying them, letting workers know in the last minute that they would have to work compulsory overtime and making them wait an hour after their shifts while they were searched.


Unite staged a Toilet Terror


demonstration at Halloween and another protest in November to shed light on these concerns. The toilet issue has now been resolved but the union continues to pile the pressure on DPD in a bid to gain union recognition.


Meanwhile, Unite secured a massive victory for delivery drivers when the union’s campaigning led to a change in the law. Before, employers could deny drivers access to toilets while they were conducting deliveries.


But now, employers in control of non- domestic premises must allow people who are not their employees but use their premises to access toilets and washing facilities.


The move is not only good for driver safety and comfort, but ensuring that delivery drivers wash their hands regularly is especially important for maintaining hygiene when delivering food.


“Finally drivers have won the right to access toilet facilities when making deliveries. This reform would not have occurred without Unite’s continued campaigning on this matter,” said Unite national officer Adrian Jones.


“This change in the application of the regulations is highly significant as it restores the dignity of drivers by giving them the right to use an employer’s toilet and hand washing facilities,” he explained.


Workers in construction also face an uphill battle in getting their toilet facility needs met. A shocking new survey conducted by Unite found that nearly one in five construction workers have no access to toilet facilities at work.


The survey found that 14 per cent of construction workplaces did not have cold water, 17 per cent did not have any drinking water and over a fifth of workplaces did not supply hot water. A shocking one in 10 workplaces do not provide toilet paper, and about just as many do not supply soap.


22 uniteWORKS Spring 2018


One worker polled said that he felt workers’ welfare always came second, while another said that to solve the problem, workers must be treated “as if you had the same facilities at home.”


“Usually the site agent has a separate toilet and nice, clean sink and toilet,” he said.


Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said the survey “must act as a wake-up call to the construction industry.”


“Providing toilets and washing facilities is not a luxury; they are a basic human right,” she said. “In the 21st century there is no excuse for any workplace not to provide clean and decent welfare facilities.


“Companies that fail to provide decent welfare facilities can and should be prosecuted and this is an area where Unite is working with the health and safety executive to ensure standards are improved.”


Cartmail argued that organised work- places are the key to good facilities.


“Where Unite is organised on a site we will always ensure that decent welfare facilities are provided and will ensure our members take the necessary measures to ensure they are in place,” she said.


While the fight for toilet access continues across many sectors, Unite secured another major win for workers’ dignity after London Mayor Sadiq Khanannounced in February that London bus drivers would gain greater access to toilets in a £6m investment programme.


Khan said the investment would go towards building permanent toilet facilities on 40 routes were toilet access is now limited.


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