Joint Trade Union letter to Wincanton
Posted on:
Carol Madden
Head of Employee and Industrial Relations
Wincanton
Dear Carol,
We are writing on behalf of our joint membership in response to the changes that have been made by the business in relation to Covid 19. The pandemic is far from over and we are seeing an increase in the number of cases in many parts of the country.
The changes to recording Covid absences and sick pay are having a detrimental impact on our members as they are now coming into work when they have returned a positive Covid test. Whilst many of us are fully vaccinated and in relatively good health, for many the risk of infection with Covid could result in serious ill health or worse. It is therefore imperative that a good employer like Wincanton is not seen to be oblivious to the physical and mental health of our members. We are seeing a growing number of people who are extremely unhappy that they are expected to work alongside colleagues who have tested positive thus creating an unhealthy environment at work.
We are seeking assurances from the business that employees will be encouraged to isolate at home if they test positive and these absences are not recorded in line with ‘normal’ absence. We would further hope that these occasions would attract sick pay at the contractual rate.
These issues are well known to us all over the last couple of years but we cannot simply hope that things are going to be ok. We are working with many employers, some your competitors, who are taking a much more sensible approach to Covid. It would be unfortunate for all the good work that Wincanton has done throughout the pandemic so far to be undone at the final hurdle.
We hope that we can reach agreement on the above as soon as possible in order to reassert some form of control on Covid in the workplace.
Yours sincerely
Mick Rix
GMB National Organiser