Council bin workers forced to isolate without sick pay

Posted by GMB Admin
Friday 19 February 2021
GMB Trade Union - Council bin workers forced to isolate without sick pay

Sickening for Daventry Norse to play games with the lives of working families just to turn a profit

A contractor for Daventry District Council are sending workers who test positive for Covid-19 home without sick pay.

Daventry Norse is using lateral flow tests which are only 50% accurate, and anyone who refuses them will be suspended from work.

The workers, who number more than 60, keep the streets and parks of Daventry clean for as little as £8.89 an hour, just pennies above the minimum wage.

This leaves self-isolating Daventry Norse workers on Statutory Sick Pay, which amounts to less than £100 a week.

Other waste contracting companies provide full pay for workers in self-isolation.

David Warwick, GMB Regional Organiser said:

“You can’t punish frontline workers for catching Covid-19 when they’re carrying out essential work to prevent the spread of disease.

“It’s sickening for Daventry Norse to play games with the lives of working families just to turn a profit.

“If every other major waste contractor can provide sick pay, so can Daventry Norse.

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