TSSA - Government Must Do More To Protect Workers Under New Covid Rules

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has demanded the Government act in the interests of the whole country by "properly protecting working people" during the new Covid-19 measures announced by the Prime Minister. 

Boris Johnson told MPs there would be a three-tier system to counter the virus. The Prime Minister also confirmed that the Government would pay two thirds of wages to employees unable to work due to the restrictions. 

However, Cortes, the union boss, rejected the announcement as “not good enough” under the extreme circumstances and the dire economic outlook.  

Cortes said: “Of course public health must come first, but we must also make sure that no one is left behind financially.  

“This Government must wake up to the fact we are living in unprecedented times and do everything in its power to bring forward measures aimed at properly protecting working people. There can be no half measures when it comes to putting food on the table. 

“It will be all too clear that six months on from the first spike of the pandemic it’s not good enough for Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to pop up at the last minute with a cobbled together furlough arrangement which expects people to survive on two thirds of the minimum wage. It’s just not on. 

“Sunak and Johnson must now act decisively and think again, to protect working people during our health emergency. Nothing else will do.”