The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has thrown its weight behind national efforts to encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
The union body has announced it is launching a national ad campaign to encourage Australians to get vaccinated to support essential workers and those who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic.
It says working people have had their incomes and jobs devastated by lockdowns.
Essential workers continue to be exposed
In addition, many essential workers will continue to be exposed to the public and face a higher risk of contracting the virus. Healthcare workers, in particular, face months of trauma that can only be shortened by people getting vaccinated, the ACTU warned.
The ad will run on TV, YouTube and social media, you can view it here.
“The union movement is encouraging all eligible Australians to get vaccinated to support the working people of our country: essential workers who expose themselves every day to keep the country running, hospital workers who face being overwhelmed with unvaccinated people, and workers who have lost their jobs because of lockdowns,” stated ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus.
She said Australia needed its workplaces and communities to be as safe as possible – and high rates of vaccination were the only way to achieve this. High vaccination rates were also the only way to avoid the crippling lockdowns which have cost working people dearly.
Choice with life-or-death consequences
“The choice to get vaccinated is one with life-or-death consequences, not just for you but for all the people you interact with, including frontline and essential workers,” McManus noted.
“We do not want to see what is happening the United States [happening] in Australia; where people listened to conspiracy theories on Facebook, instead of doctors, and ended up in ICUs as a result.
“Vaccination is how we support each other and build a community with a strong shield that will keep us all safe. How strong our shield is depends on all of us making the choice to get vaccinated,” the ACTU Secretary said.
“We are calling on everyone to do their part so we can protect each other.”
