Rally calls for sick pay for postal workers

Spokesperson Sinead Quinn said Christmas may well be a wonderful and magical time for many but for many others it is fraught with stress, worry and illness.

She added: “As we know too well, there has been much severe sickness around now for some time, between Strep A, Covid, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) & Flu, evidenced by Out Of Hours overflowing into Accident and Emergency.

“When it comes to being unwell and being a worker, contracted workers can expect is to be paid when they are sick and unable to work. Some people only get statutory sick pay but others with better terms and conditions will be paid as usual for their time off sick. 

“I was approached this morning by a local postal worker, clearly unwell although out at their work. I enquired why they were at work, out getting drenched when they clearly weren’t well enough to be doing the job. They replied that they had been off last week sick and didn’t get their sick pay.

“It is absolutely disgusting that, during the worst cost of living crisis in fifty years, a massively rich corporation like Royal Mail is turning its back on their employees at the time they need them most. It is utterly shameful to leave working people out of pocket never mind the health and safety implications of people being forced into the workplace to mix with so many transmissible illnesses floating around.

“We, Derry Against Fuel Poverty, are calling on the public, politicians and campaigners to join us at the Sorting Office in Great James Street, tomorrow, (Friday, December 30) at 11am to protest this unjust decision and to show solidarity with our postal workers. An injury to one is an injury to all.”