Patrick Harvie launches campaign for hospitality workers
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has called on the UK Government to extend its job retention scheme to support hospitality workers.
The Glasgow MSP today (Friday 19 June) launches a campaign to support and protect hospitality workers as Scotland gets back to work.
The launch comes after phase two restrictions announced by the Scottish Government mean pubs and restaurants remain closed for the time being, and as Scotland’s unemployment rate becomes the highest among all the UK nations.
The campaign launch also coincides with a live online event with Mr Harvie and Unite Hospitality and local hospitality workers from Glasgow.
Patrick Harvie said: “In recent weeks, we’ve seen hundreds of hospitality job losses announced in Glasgow. Many thousands more could go before the current October cliff-edge for UK Government support.
“That’s why my Build Back Better for Hospitality Workers campaign is urging the UK Government to extend its job retention scheme before any more jobs are lost, as well as putting workers at the heart of the sector’s recovery.
“I understand why the Scottish Government is taking a cautious approach on businesses reopening, but hospitality workers are overwhelmingly young people already carrying the burden of low pay, insecure work and precarious housing. Their income security needs to be part of the recovery plan.”