TERMINAL ILLNESS IN WORK

COUNCILLORS have backed a union’s bid to protect terminally ill workers from being sacked.

In a motion put forward by Cllr Mike Wharton and backed by Cllr Chris Loftus, councillors have been asked to support the TUC’s ‘Dying To Work’ campaign.

Cllr Wharton, Hale, and Cllr Loftus, Beechwood, also want Halton Borough Council chief executive David Parr to write to Derek Twigg MP, Mike Amesbury MP and the work and pensions minister to proceed legislation being drawn up to make sure that terminally ill workers have the same protections as staff affected by maternity rights, to protect death in service benefits and to ‘allow workers with terminal illness to die with dignity’.

The councillors said that the TUC has revealed that terminally ill workers are not protected under national disability legislation and therefore can be dismissed if they are can no longer ‘conduct their role with reasonable adjustments’.

The motion requested that: “This council believes in the dignity of work, and that those receiving a terminal diagnosis should not be forced out of work.

“This council believes that there should be additional Government protection for terminally ill employees, from the point of diagnosis.

“This council resolves to continue to treat staff members who receive a terminal diagnosis with dignity, and to make adjustments to ensure that they are able to stay in work as long as they wish.”

It was due to be voted on yesterday, July 12, after the Weekly News had gone to print.