Unite the union has today (27 March) welcomed the instruction by
the Scottish Government to close construction sites not linked to
the health service. Unite has been demanding construction sites
across Scotland should stop with immediate effect or lives would be
put at risk. Unite has been inundated by reports this week that
construction workers were having to use public transport or shared
transport in order to comply with employer requests or face losing
wages. Unite has also repeatedly...Request free trial
Unite the union has today (27 March) welcomed the instruction by
the Scottish Government to close construction sites not linked to
the health service.
Unite has been demanding
construction sites across Scotland should stop with immediate
effect or lives would be put at risk. Unite has been inundated by
reports this week that construction workers were having to use
public transport or shared transport in order to comply with
employer requests or face losing wages. Unite has also repeatedly
warned government over the lack of personal protective equipment
(PPE) and that workers are often only inches away from each other
during a time when individuals are meant to be maintaining social
distancing and strict hygiene
measures.
Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish
Secretary, said: “Unite has been demanding that
construction workers should not be on sites unless they are
expressly linked to the health service as the First Minister
advised. We are now being told that construction companies are
closing down sites following instruction by the Scottish
Government, which is very welcome. However, it’s extremely
disappointing that many construction firms continued to put profit
ahead of people and did not act responsibly at an early stage. Many
of these firms have been compelled to do what they should do have
done themselves last
week.”
