Confidential source questioned Merseyflow workers’ festive pay
MERSEYFLOW has moved to reassure the public that its working pay and conditions are fair after a confidential source raised concerns about staff not being properly rewarded for working over the festive period.
The organisation said employees working to collect Mersey Gateway crossing tolls on Christmas Day would be paid double their usual rate, which is ‘at least the minimum wage’ and due to rise to £9 per hour by 2020. A Merseyflow spokesman added that extra benefits are being considered such as cinema discounts, health cover, insurance and pensions. A confidential source had reported concerns that staff would not be paid extra for working over Christmas and the associated winter bank holidays and that pay did not meet the living wage, all in the context that the Mersey Gateway bridge had been trumpeted by a Labour council as a job creation powerhouse for residents, but that this now appeared to lend itself to employing workers who would settle for less in the workplace and not press for fair pay and conditions.
They added that better pay would help to keep the revenues in the area instead of being exported.
A Merseyflow spokesperson said: “In the last ● four months, we have recruited more than 200 people from all sorts of backgrounds and have a great team.
“We have made special efforts in recruiting from the local area and, in total, 95% of our employees live in the Halton area.
“Some have joined us following a period of longterm unemployment.
“We pay at least the national minimum wage which will rise to £9 per hour by 2020, and is competitive for the sector.
“We have an attractive walk-in centre and call centre and are constantly looking to improve the working environment.
“On top of this we are looking at a range of benefits for our staff including: health insurance, pensions, discounts in retailers and cinema, and optical, dental and prescription cover.
“We believe in constant and ongoing communication with our staff and, thanks to that, our staff have chosen not to request for us to recognise a union.”