The TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady and Yorkshire & the Humber Regional Secretary Bill Adams have today written to local MPs urging them to demand answers from government on job support and raise the need for improved financial assistance for affected workers as new lockdown restrictions loom across Yorkshire.
In the letter, the union body says the government has not gone far enough to save jobs and livelihoods, underlining the calls it set out last week for a three-pronged local furlough approach:
The letter comes as MPs prepare to debate new local lockdown restrictions in the House of Commons tomorrow, including the chancellor’s proposed expansion of the job support scheme to cover two-thirds of workers’ salaries where businesses are forced to close.
Government measures inadequate for lowest paid
The TUC says these measures are “inadequate” and that ministers must do more to prevent unnecessary hardship.
Annual figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released in August showed that the number of people on zero hours contracts had hit 89,000, the highest number on record.
Further ONS data shows that from March-June, 11,000 workforce jobs were lost in hospitality, food, arts and entertainment across our region.
Data in September from the Low Pay Commission showed that 40,000 workers in Yorkshire are being paid below the National Minimum Wage.
The TUC is concerned that lockdown restrictions are disproportionately impacting low paid workers in service jobs, and the short time furlough measures are not enough to prevent mass unemployment.
The union body also says the government must ensure any sector-specific support is focused on securing jobs and livelihoods, guaranteeing that any funding already set aside achieve this - such as today’s DCMS announcement on the first round of grants in its £1.57bn fund.
The TUC also uses the letter to repeat its call for the government to make all working people eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), and to raise it to the equivalent of the real Living Wage (£320 pw). This would avoid people required to self-isolate being plunged into poverty.
TUC Regional Secretary Bill Adams said:
“The lockdown measures announced today will have an enormous impact on the lives of working people in South and West Yorkshire. Yet the government’s job support package remains inadequate.
“Ministers must do more to prevent unnecessary hardship and local MPs need to take the government to task on this.
“It’s low paid workers in insecure jobs who are paying the price here.
“We have been clear on what’s needed to save jobs and livelihoods. Wage replacement should be 80% where businesses are forced to close. Firms which are hit by stricter local restrictions but aren’t required to close need a more generous short-time working scheme. And there needs to be extra help for the overlooked self-employed in local lockdown areas too.
“And the government must get a grip on its chaotic test and trace system and pay a living wage sick pay to everyone self-isolating.”
ENDS
- The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.
Contacts:
TUC Press Office
Gareth Forest (Lewis)
glewis@tuc.org.uk
0113 200 1075
07810 374976
Our of hours:
Bill Adams
07867 788856
badams@tuc.org.uk
Want to hear about our latest news and blogs?
Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox
To access the admin area, you will need to setup two-factor authentication (TFA).