University accused of ‘turning its back’ on low paid workers
Trade union Unite has said Sheffield University vice chancellor Koen Lamberts is failing to help workers at the university’s campus amid the COVID -19 pandemic.
The union says Lamberts is not intervening to help furloughed workers earning well below the minimum wage.
But Sheffield University has responded that the staff referred to by the union work for organisations separate to the university, which have their own financial and governance structures.
And the university adds it is already experiencing pandemic-related loss of revenue from its accommodation, campus and conference activity.
A statement issued by Unite today explains: “500 workers employed by Sheffield Students’ Union, who are on a toxic combination of the minimum wage and zero hours, as well as 200 workers employed by the university’s arm’s length company Unicus, are now being paid the equivalent of £6.16 per hour. They face a cost of living crisis.
“A survey conducted by the union has found 73% of affected staff said they will struggle to pay for housing costs while 67% said they will struggle to pay for food and basic amenities.
“Just 9% have savings that will make up the loss in pay and only 15% have family who can support them financially.
“Hundreds of staff employed by Sheffield Students’ Union are being furloughed on 80% of their pay from the beginning of May.
“Workers employed by Unicus the University’s arm’s length body were furloughed on 80% of their pay since the beginning of April. Sheffield Students’ Union gets most of its funding from the university.
“Workers directly employed by the university have been assured they will be furloughed on full pay.”
Unite regional officer Harriet Eisner said: “Koen Lamberts has turned his back on the community that makes up the University of Sheffield.
“We urge him to think again and engage with the union which has the workers’ best interests at heart during the current health crisis.
“The vice chancellor is in charge of the university and employees of Unicus and the Students’ Union are part of his university community.
“They are employed on the lowest possible pay rates and are currently furloughed on 80% of that.
“I find it incredible that the vice chancellor appears to be washing his hands of these young people who have paid fees to study at his university and work at his university to pay for their food and accommodation.”
The university spokesman said: “The pandemic has had a significant effect on the way UK universities operate.
“We don’t yet understand the full impact of the pandemic, but the University of Sheffield has already seen a loss of revenue from our accommodation, campus and conference activity.
“We are modelling some difficult financial scenarios based on how the pandemic may affect our next academic year.
“Although the university has committed to topping up the salary of any of its furloughed staff, the Sheffield Students’ Union and Unicus are separate employers with different financial and governance structures to the university.
“Both organisations are reliant on revenues from food and drink outlets to cover their staff costs.
“Like other retail and hospitality outlets, they have taken the decision to access the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme scheme to support their staff and protect jobs while their buildings and facilities remain closed and revenues from those activities have dried up.
“We are working together to mitigate longer term financial risks and to ensure a safe return to work as we look at how we will reopen our campus.
“Leaders at both the Students’ Union and Unicus are working hard to make sure staff do not face financial hardship.
“Details of the Students’ Union financial support scheme can be found here: https://su.sheffield.ac.uk/covid-money-issues/su-financial-support-scheme
“Unicus has also written to its furloughed staff with details of their hardship fund and invited applications to it.”
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