Engineer, 66, fears he’ll lose job for ‘getting booster jab on work time’
AN INSPECTOR at an engineering company fears he may lose his job after going for his Covid booster jab in work time.
Thomas Keady, 66, who has been at Longwood Engineering in Huddersfield for 12 years and earns around £28,000, had been allowed along with other workers to get their previous two jabs during working hours.
It’s understood he signed up for his booster without a thought of any potential retribution.
But the union rep has now been suspended from work. He says this is because he went for his Covid19 booster vaccination in work time. His union, the GMB, has expressed outrage at the disciplinary action taken against a representative for simply following Government advice to have his booster jab. It says he now faces disciplinary action and the possibility of losing his job.
Specifically, he faces three charges including failure to adhere to company policy regarding time off, alleged insubordination to a director of Longwood Engineering, (managing director James Taylor), and absence from work without permission.
The GMB says after being encouraged ‘not to turn up’ for his appointment, Mr Keady tried to rearrange it but was unable to do so.
He says he was told by his manager that if he did go, he would ‘face the consequences.’
He was not prepared to let his slot go to waste with the resulting inconvenience for the NHS so he attended his appointment towards the end of the working day.
Workers at the site had previously been allowed time off to have their first and second Covid vaccinations but the company decided to change its policy.
The GMB believes this current situation was completely avoidable by giving workers time off to have their booster jabs.
GMB organiser Andrew Aldwinkle said: “I find it incredible that in the middle of a continuing pandemic, Longwood Engineering would take the decision to suspend anyone for going for a Covid vaccination. Any reasonable employer would give workers time off to go get their jab.
“I have spoken with the company to try and resolve the issue, but they are determined to make an example of our rep. The company needs to take a long hard look at itself and start to act reasonably, reinstate our rep immediately and get round the table to have a discussion on how we can avoid this situation going forward.”
A spokeswoman for Longwood Engineering said: “In response to your query, we don’t feel it’s appropriate to comment until all the parties have been properly consulted.”