More than 500 casual staff at SEC to be axed before furlough ends
More than 500 workers are set to lose their jobs at Scotland’s biggest exhibition centre – before the furlough scheme ends.
Staff employed by Levy Restaurants, which runs hospitality services at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, received the news by email.
The firm told the hundreds of contracted and non-contracted workers their last furlough payment through the UK Government’s job retention scheme would be made on 9 September.
Valentina Severa Clavell, a worker at the venue, said staff had received “barely any communication and support”.
Workers were told that, because live events cannot resume because of coronavirus restrictions, the company would not continue their employment.
The affected staff do not work for the SEC, which is 90%-owned by Glasgow City Council, but rather Levy Restaurants.
The email sent to staff stated: “The prospects of fully attended events is many months away and may only return in 2021.”
A Unite union spokesman condemned the move as “disgraceful”.
He said: “The way in which Levy Restaurants have treated their staff at Scottish Events
Campus is nothing short of disgraceful. There is an alternative to mass redundancy available till at least October 31 in the job retention scheme.
“Instead Levy are looking to terminate all core and casual staff in the next few weeks because from September they will be expected to contribute a measly 10% towards their wages.
Scottish Green co-leader and Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie said: “Job losses on this scale are absolutely devastating for the city as well as for the individuals involved.
“Glasgow City Council own the SEC so it’s vital that it and the Scottish Government explore every avenue available to prevent these jobs going.
“It’s been clear for some time, though, that ending the furlough scheme on a cliff edge would lead to huge numbers of job losses.
“The Chancellor must now put people’s livelihoods first and commit to extending the furlough scheme into 2021.”