Workers at Rolls-Royce factory left unpaid after uncertainty over coronavirus furlough scheme

The scheme, intended to allow businesses to keep staff on their books and return to business as quickly as possible after the lockdown is lifted, allows employers to claim up to 80 per cent of wages.

But the Unite union has accused employment agency Giant agency of ‘bad faith’ after workers at Rolls-Royce factories in Washington and Derby went unpaid.

Unite said staff had been left ‘in dire financial straits’ and confused by mixed messages over progress of the agency’s application for funding.

Unite regional coordinator Suzanne Reid, who represents the 27 Washington workers, said: “Giant agency workers have been left in the worst possible predicament – they have not received any wages for well over a month which is causing financial hardship for their families and impacting on their mental health.

“We have had mixed messages from the company over whether the JRS application is being progressed or not. It appears that they could be reneging on what was agreed in mid-April.”

Washington & Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson, said: “I am bitterly disappointed Giant have failed to ensure their employees receive the financial support they are entitled to. As our country faces the biggest challenge in peacetime, it is unforgivable that companies are placing their workers in such financial difficulty.”

A Giant statement blamed uncertainties over how the furlough scheme applied to agency staff for the problems: “We are working hard to support our contingent workforce during these unprecedented times that has posed many challenges to businesses.

“Since the announcement of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, there have been numerous updates to the guidance, and it is unfortunate there remain some areas of uncertainty as to how the scheme applies to our, and other contingent workforces.

“It has been our aim to seek clarity from both the Government and HMRC to ensure all our workers are treated equally, but unfortunately this has not been forthcoming.

“In the absence of receiving an update, we have commenced the process to make furlough claims for March and April ready for payment next week.”

Click here for our interactive map of the coronavirus outbreak

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.