Backlash over fast return for burger giants
FAST food chains, construction firms and manufacturers are ignoring lockdown guidelines and ordering staff to return to work.
Trade unions say a growing numbers of companies have begun to reopen since Boris Johnson announced the first ‘small steps’ out of lockdown on Sunday evening.
The Prime Minister said employees should return to work from today if they cannot work from home. But the First Minister said the advice north of the Border was still for people to stay at home and she yesterday urged firms to not force staff to return to work prematurely.
KFC is to open some of its restaurants across the UK, including in Scotland, on a ‘case by case basis’, while Burger King confirmed plans to open some drive-throughs.
Dave Moxham, deputy general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said: ‘There is a sporadic but noticeable ramping up of pressure on staff to go back to work in some places. This can be people on furlough, working from home or on income support who are being called back.’
He said KFC telling staff to return to work was a ‘concerning development’. He added: ‘Have they taken into account all of the advice in Scotland, where there are clear red lines about travel to work and rules on PPE in workplaces?
‘For them to be planning to reopen against Scottish Government guidelines in a non-unionised workplace is a concerning turn of events for us. There is confusion. Different companies form UK-wide policies which seem based on UK guidelines.’
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: ‘The notion that KFC is providing an essential service at present is, at best, questionable.
‘Following the chancellor’s announcement that the furlough scheme will be extended, any company seeking to reopen outlets must not ask staff to return to workplaces until it is fully safe for them to do so and must assure workers that they will not be penalised if they remain on furlough.’
Yesterday, KFC confirmed it is opening some outlets in Scotland.
A spokesman said: ‘We’re continuing to reopen restaurants across the
UK on a case by case basis to make sure we’re doing it responsibly.
‘We have put in place stringent hygiene and social distancing measures, which include designated zones in our kitchens to adhere to government advice.’
Miss Sturgeon said the UK Government’s business guidance was ‘not yet operational in Scotland’.
She added: ‘I would ask instead that all employers follow the Scottish Government guidance. I am very grateful for the fact that the vast majority of employers have been so responsible throughout this crisis – so I am sure that most will do this and will not urge workers to come back to work prematurely.
‘And for employees, I would remind you that if you think working conditions are unsafe, you have rights under employment legislation.
‘If you have a trade union in your workplace, and you have concerns about your working conditions, you should also be able to talk to them.’
She said guidance would be published by the Scottish Government on ‘safe workplaces’ for staff starting to return to work.
Miss Sturgeon added: ‘I would say to employers, wherever your head office is, if you are employing people who live in Scotland, have regard to Scottish Government guidance. That is what the UK Government would tell you to do as well.’
Asked about chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King and Starbucks reopening outlets in Scotland, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘Right now, for the reasons I’ve set out, because our progress against this virus is fragile, we must be cautious, we must not prematurely lift these restrictions and risk the virus running out of control.
‘I would say to employers of all shapes and sizes in all sectors that you should be following, in Scotland, Scottish Government advice.
‘We are not yet encouraging any businesses that are not open right now, or any workers who are not working right now, to be back in operation.’
‘We must be cautious’