Responding to the chancellor's new measures to support jobs and
businesses, Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, the UK's
leading union, said: "Once again, the government has been too
slow to do more to support working people through this pandemic.
The adjustment to the Job Support Scheme was urgently needed and
ought to make it easier for struggling employers to hold onto
staff.
“However, it does nothing to help those sectors hardest hit and
which are not in Tier 2 – aviation, aerospace and hospitality.
These sectors are struggling and desperately need help that
reflects the true picture nationally.
"It also remains the case that this government is still asking
people to make ends meet with huge losses of income.
“This Job Support Scheme is still asking people to survive on 60
per cent of their wages and for many this is simply not possible.
Banks and landlords will expect full payment and the cost of
feeding a family has not been reduced. Unite remains committed to
campaigning for an extension of the Job Retention Scheme,
specific to sectors in need with a minimum commitment of 80 per
cent wage support.
"Without this, there will be certain hardship for a great many
people so we would urge the chancellor to again review the levels
of support this government will offer. Borrowing costs are at
historically low levels so it makes total sense for the
chancellor to invest against poverty and despair and in the
brighter future the people and the economy of this country
deserve.
"The support announced today ought to have come weeks ago. The
chancellor has at last moved but who knows how many workers were
sent to the dole along the road to get here.
"It is vital now that the government learns from our competitor
countries in providing the long-term assistance needed to support
people and the economy to come out the other side of this
dreadful disease in as fit a shape as possible. Bespoke packages
are still needed for those sectors that can propel our economy
out of this hole and into recovery.
"It remains concerning that our government refuses to match the
support provided to by the French and German to their citizens.
The workers in those countries rest easier in their beds at
night; UK workers deserve the same."
Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett, who leads on
for the union on hospitality, added: "While today's Tier 2
measures are a step in the right direction for hospitality and
tourism, they still fall well short of what is needed to stop the
devastation sweeping through this sector.
“We have set out what the chancellor needs to do to help the
industry get back on its feet, including extending the JRS at 80
per cent of wages, providing they don't fall below the minimum
wage, and the establishment of a Hospitality Commission to
retrain workers who lose their jobs, in order to provide hope of
future employment."
