TUC call for Liverpool employers to do the right thing during mass testing pilot

They’re calling for financial security for workers to help them get tested and take action if needed, so that public health measures can be effective and the city can get on top of the pandemic. They say the success of mass testing will depend on employees being able to afford to do the right thing and follow public health advice to self-isolate if needed.

They’re asking employers in Liverpool to:

• support workers who wish to get tested
• pay workers, who test positive or who are asked to self-isolate by track and trace, full pay where possible from day one and publicly state their support for this, to give confidence and certainty to workers

The TUC have consistently emphasised the need for financial support for workers throughout the pandemic. Commenting, Lynn Collins TUC North West Regional Secretary said:

“Employers in Liverpool have a unique role to play in supporting their workers to participate in the pilot and to not be financially penalised for doing so.  

“Throughout the pandemic, we have consistently called for financial support for workers who need to self-isolate. It’s important that employers, where they can, pay workers full pay when self-isolating. But where this can’t happen, the government needs to step in. They must increase access to statutory sick pay to all workers and boost the rate at which it is paid in line with the real living wage. We will continue to call on them to do this.

“In the meantime, to protect lives and livelihoods, we’re calling on all employers to do the right thing – allowing workers time to get tested and ensuring they have financial security if they need to self-isolate. Working together, we can beat this pandemic.”