School workers and the government are set for a stand-off over reopening during coronavirus.

The Tory government is combining absurdly unclear messages about "staying alert" with a rush to reopen more of the capitalist economy. While they are concerned only about restarting the profit machine, workers are concerned this premature, shambolic dash is a Covid-19 death sentence.

The capitalists have one set of guidelines for reopening. The workers have another. So what should the unions do about it?

Are the government's guidelines for "safe" reopening of schools really safe? How can trade unionists force the Tories to take safety seriously? And are there lessons from the lockdown for how education might work differently?

This episode of Socialism looks at lifting the lockdown: schools, safety and super-spreaders

Further reading

No going back to unsafe schools: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30756/13-05-2020/no-going-back-to-unsafe-schools

Tories put profit before lives - unions must stand firm on workplace safety: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30754/13-05-2020/tories-put-profit-before-lives-unions-must-stand-firm-on-workplace-safety

Test and trace - workers need a real plan: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30734/06-05-2020/test-and-trace-workers-need-a-real-plan

Tories using pandemic to shift lab testing out of NHS: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30726/05-05-2020/tories-using-pandemic-to-shift-lab-testing-out-of-nhs

Martin Powell-Davies - teacher, trade unionist and socialist blog: http://www.mpdnut.com/

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