Hospitality businesses must step up on staff safety ahead of reopening tomorrow

July 14th 2020

Hospitality businesses must step up on staff safety ahead of reopening tomorrow

July 14th 2020

As Scotland takes its biggest step so far in the easing of lockdown, the STUC warns employers to step up on staff safety.

Commenting on the re-opening of indoor hospitality on Wednesday 15th July, Roz Foyer, General Secretary of the STUC, has called on workers to ensure that their employers do not skirt their safety obligations.

“The First Minister is right that tomorrow is the biggest and highest risk step out of lockdown. Indoor hospitality reopening safely depends on the safety of workers. When workers are protected, we are all safer.

“Employers must provide adequate PPE, ensure that social distancing takes place, and provide workers with adequate sick pay to enable workers to self isolate if needed. Throughout the crisis, too many hospitality bosses have attempted to skirt their responsibilities to their staff. We will not forget the businesses who refused to furlough their staff during this pandemic, attempted to make them sign away their terms and conditions, and laid them off.

“As ever, we urge workers to collectively join a union and win their workplace demands. The Better Than Zero campaign is prepared to give guidance and support for workers aiming to do this. Many workers have built the strength and fortitude to force employers to grant them better conditions and security. In tens of thousands of hospitality businesses, workers still have a long way to go.

“The last thing any of us want is a resurgence of the virus. Joining together with colleagues and demanding what you need to make your workplace safer, will help us all.”

ENDS