This is important at a time when university staff have rallied and gone beyond their contractual duties and normal working hours to ensure that all essential work including teaching has continued whilst the University has taken measures to address the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several universities in the UK (including the University of St. Andrews, King’s College London, and Birkbeck) have already announced an amnesty on pay deductions in recognition of the exceptional demands on their staff. We ask that the University of Kent follow these examples by granting an amnesty on strike pay deductions given that exceptional demands on their staff are likely to be ongoing for some time and to ensure staff morale and goodwill at this time.

Workers are more important than the non essential work that they are being asked to carry out. A persons life is more important than a pothole.

We are amongst the 40,000 staff at JD Wetherspoon who have been laid off after the chain closed its pubs in response to the coronavirus crisis. The government have pledged to cover 80% of wages for laid off workers, but Wetherspoons initially refused to cover the cost of our pay until the government money comes in, threatening us with a wait without pay as long as the end of April. Thanks to pressure from our union BFAWU, supporters online and allies in parliament, Wetherspoons have been forced into a partial U-turn. They’ve agreed to cover wages, though they haven’t given detail yet, and after their original penny pinching response, we want to see exactly what this means. On the rates Wetherspoons pay, we're already facing poverty pay in work - nobody can afford to have money put by for a crisis like this. If Wetherspoons only pay us the 80% of our wages that the government will guarantee, and without the usual bonuses we are paid, many of us will have no way to pay the rent, bills or support our families. Plenty of other companies in the sector are doing much better by their workers. Costa have already promised 8 weeks full pay to cover the gap. Wetherspoons have the cash and could afford to do the same. We want Tim Martin and JD Wetherspoon to : 1) Agree they will shoulder the extra 20% to make up the difference in wages from the 80% the government have pledged to cover. 2) Pay all bonuses that staff are due in full. Please help us and our union BFAWU to put public pressure on our employers to do right by the people who have built the firm's success. Send our boss Tim Martin an email now. ------ Are you a Wetherspoons worker? ------ 🗣️🗣️ *WETHERSPOONS WORKERS ASSEMBLE!* Want in? Join our WhatsApp group to be part of the national campaign of Wetherspoons workers fighting for everything we deserve: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Js8Ljta8fI6L1gUTX0l7Tt

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 represents a significant threat to the Cardiff University community. We are asking that Cardiff University management to guarantee full pay to PGR tutors who cannot work due to illness or self quarantining in the coming weeks and months. This will prevent PGR teachers from risking their health, and the health of other staff and students, and ensure the financial security of PGRs during this time. Join the UCU to demand universal paid sick leave for Cardiff University PGR teachers. https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

We support measures to reduce the spread and impact of coronavirus, but no-one should be out of pocket, or even worse out of a job, for doing the right thing. When schools and nurseries close for most children, loads of parents will be unable to work because they'll have to look after their kids. But current parental or dependants' leave arrangements are too short and in any case mean going without pay – something most people simply can’t afford. If we want people to follow government health advice, the government has to support parents. And they need to act fast to deal with this emergency. That means: * Keeping everyone on full pay, if their kids' school or childcare closes. * Reimbursing employers – just like they do for maternity pay. * No-one should be treated unfairly or lose their job because they need to look after their kids. Let's support workers in getting us through this epidemic, and make sure no-one loses their job or is pushed into hardship because their kids' school closes. __________ (If you're a working parent and concerned about your own work rights when schools close, find out more where you might stand under the current arrangements here: https://bit.ly/3928WfT )

There are currently hundreds of workers at the Students’ Union working in the bars, cafés, shops and kitchens on zero hour contracts, with no access to sick pay, being paid just the minimum wage. They are mostly students who must work to pay their rent and continue their studies. The combination of low pay, an insufficient student loan, and high rent forces casual workers to scrape by in poor quality housing. Being close to maxing out your overdraft is, for many, normal. Their work generates significant income for the Students' Union and is hugely important for the University's reputation. The improvements they are asking for would transform the lives of hundreds, and would cost less than the University's Vice Chancellor earns in a year. We call on the University of Sheffield Students' Union to do the right thing, and show their casual workers that they are valued, that their health and wellbeing matter – that they are #BetterThanZero.

We fear that if you go through with this then teachers will leave and you will be unable to replace them with teachers of the same calibre. The long-term impact of this could be catastrophic, leading to a loss of reputation and educational standard. We care about this school for the sake of our kids and all those that will follow them. If we want to guarantee their future, we have to safeguard their teachers' retirement.

Workers affected by the coronavirus outbreak could have to go into quarantine or self-isolation to prevent the further spread of the virus. Right now millions of UK workers don’t earn enough to get this protection. And workers with existing sick pay schemes should be paid at the full rate offered by the employer while in isolation, and not be considered as on annual or unpaid leave. No one should worry about falling into debt or struggling to pay their bills when they’re ill or have to self-isolate. If people aren't compensated for the time spent at home, the risk people go to work and spread the illness increases. The government must ensure everyone gets decent sick pay, however much they earn.

I'm Peter Moorhead, I have worked for social care provider AFG for over 20 years. In 2019, AFG care workers took strike action against our employer because we were not being paid the minimum wage for so-called "sleep in" shifts. As UNISON's convenor (lead representative) for AFG, I was involved in supporting our members in their fight for fair pay. AFG did not react positively to the strike action. Recently, I have been informed by AFG that they are going to make me redundant and scrap any provision for a UNISON convenor at the care provider. We feel that AFG have unfairly selected the UNISON Convenor position for redundancy and that in reality this is about AFG responding to last year's industrial dispute by trying to shut down any worker representation at the organisation. AFG did not enter into meaningful consultation and their decision potentially amounts to trade union victimisation. This is bigger than my job though. With over 750 UNISON members working for AFG across the North West, the removal of the position will severely impact on the industrial relation with AFG and also hamper the day to day needs of UNISON members. Please sign this petition calling on AFG to do the decent thing and reverse their decision to make me redundant. Thank you for your support, Peter Moorhead (UNISON Convenor- AFG)

The run-up to Christmas is busy and stressful for everyone working in retail, and in connected jobs like warehouse and distribution too. Retail workers have been putting in long, tough shifts to help customers get ready for Christmas, and they barely have the time and energy to make their own preparations. When Christmas comes, far too often they don’t get a decent break, with a late finish on Christmas Eve and then back to work early on Boxing Day morning. More than three-quarters of workers surveyed by Usdaw said that working over the Christmas period means that they spend too little time at Christmas with their loved ones. Most retail workers are put under pressure to work on Boxing Day, and this even happens in workplaces where it’s supposed to be ‘voluntary’ – that’s why 97% of retail workers think that shops should shut on Boxing Day. #XmasIsNotWorking and that's why we’re calling on retailers to put their hardworking staff first, and keep the shops shut. Find out more about Usdaw’s #XmasIsNotWorking campaign at www.usdaw.org.uk/XmasIsNotWorking

Boris Johnson and his hard-right cabinet are not only on the side of the establishment … they are the establishment. And this Tory government isn’t so different from any other Tory government: they will help the rich get richer and make working-class people pay. That’s why the Brexit deal just announced between the EU and UK government would be a disaster for working people. It's clear that the UK government will seek to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU after Brexit. A free trade agreement could shrink the UK economy by 6 per cent, hammering jobs and livelihoods, and putting our NHS and public services at further risk. Leaving the customs union will also make trade more expensive and slower, hitting working people’s pockets. Low income families would be hit hardest. This deal also gives no guarantee that workers’ rights will be protected or keep pace with improvements in the rights of workers across the EU. Add your name to make sure Boris Johnson knows the people won’t accept his deal.

New research by the MU reveals 48% of members surveyed have been sexually harassed at work, and more than half have witnessed incidents of sexual harassment while working. 61% of musicians who took the survey told us they feel at greater risk of experiencing sexual harassment because of their freelance status. That’s why the Musicians’ Union is campaigning for stronger protections from sexual harassment at work that include freelancers too. Please sign the petition now to show your support. By signing the petition, you are reminding the Government that they have a duty to protect everyone from sexual harassment at work – including you, and musicians and other freelancers you know or whose work you enjoy. PREVENTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK We asked 724 musicians about their experiences of sexual harassment at work. This research shows: • 48% have experienced sexual harassment at work • 58% have witnessed sexual harassment at work • 61% believe freelancers are at higher risk of being sexually harassed while working That’s not all; an overwhelming majority of members who experienced sexual harassment at work said that they did not report their experiences. And who can blame them. We’ve seen first-hand how difficult it is for freelancers to report sexual harassment and get any form of redress. It’s a clear sign that the system is broken, and we’re calling on Government to take this opportunity to fix it. PROTECT FREELANCERS TOO It should not be the responsibility of the self-employed or freelancers to protect themselves from sexual harassment. Do not let the Government forget that it has a duty to protect everyone at work. Add your voice to the call to protect freelancers too.