Unite reiterates that contrary to QUB excuses, its legal advice confirms their members working in the Students Union are eligible for furlough payments

On a day when a number of socially-distanced protests in support of Students’ union workers were held at various locations around Queens campus, Unite Hospitality organiser, Neil Moore, said:

“There is clearly huge levels of public support for our members – many of whom have not been paid at all since August. The refusal of Queens authorities to avail of furlough wage supports for these workers is not only callous, but inexplicable.

“Despite missing the deadline to backdate an application for furlough support, it is still not too late for Queens to do the right thing, furlough their workers and relieve some of the financial hardship these zero hours and casual workers have had to endure.

“Unite’s legal advice is clear and contradicts the excuses offered by University authorities. These workers are certainly eligible for furlough payments.

“Queens must do the right thing by these workers or face a continued escalation of the protests. Our members have been left without any income and face pauperisation – their backs are against the wall and they are determined to continue their protests until they get pay justice”, Mr Moore concluded.