LRD guides and handbook June 2020

State support and coronavirus - a trade union guide

Chapter 3

Have unions negotiated sick-pay improvements on top of SSP?

[ch 3: page 19]

Yes, there are many cases where unions have won better sick pay arrangements.

During the coronavirus outbreak, unions have negotiated and fought for better sick pay for many groups of workers. For example, at Nottingham Community Housing Association, an agreement negotiated with UNISON and Unite means that absence due to Covid-19 symptoms is being dealt with outside the sickness absence policy as absence due to national emergency. For staff self-isolating due to symptoms, or where a member of their household has symptoms, salary is paid in full even if they are probationary staff. NCHA does not normally pay company sick pay to staff in the first year of employment but this is not considered sickness absence and therefore they are being paid.