Top University refusal to claim Furlough

lisassalerail.co.uk

My query is around recent events a top University and Uni Temps and the refusal utilize Rishi Sunak's extended furlough scheme. I really need help with this. I am employed as a Class Instructor at a uni/public gym . I have worked for them since 2018 and was able to top up my income previously with 80% of my average earnings. My hours are set each week and I am dedicated to this role. I am employed by a Third party agency known as UNITEMPS but we are line managed within the Sports Centre . Information since Saturday as been scarce until on the last day of the business functioning myself and my fellow instructors received an e-mail from UNITEMPS simply stating that they would not be joining the government furlough scheme as it does not cover their costs and therefore isn't financially viable. Costs include National Insurance and pension contributions.
We have a large group chat for Group Exercise Instructors and a few of us decided to challenge this information. Originally our line manager insisted it was a UNITEMPS decision and there would be a requirement for those that had the space, technology and paid music rights could live stream classes. Oiur sports centre is a substantial one and offers a massive timetable within the Centre it was admitted these would be very limited. Having done some research this is a matter of ticking boxes and looking like they are supporting us when actually the income that people are losing would be a fraction of what is offered as the alternative. I felt strongly that his attitude was dismissive of our plight and suggested that as our line manager we could stand together and challenge this decision and hope they would revoke this ruling. A little while later it came out that it was infact a decision that was made at the top of the University (so not the agency as we were initially informed) which applies to all UNITEMPS staff across the University. I challenged this new information by asking why we were not fed the truth with the response being that Uni Temps is part of the University. This isn't true, having been based in the sports centre for a couple of years now it is common knowledge that they are actually looking to phase UNITEMPS out as it costs them too much money. A colleague of mine got a response from the CEO which basically justified the choice to not pay us.
In conclusion I would suggest that the people at the top who are making these life impacting decisions don’t have to worry about their bills as we struggle through a second wave of a Pandemic with the initial period being one month with no reassurance as we follow government advice. The reality of the situation is that despite our dedication to jobs we love we are no-one to the powers that be and often don’t have a voice. The Government scheme is there to protect hard working people like this and this is a massive injustice. As a side note ALL CONTRACTED university staff are receiving furlough and a 20% top up. To my knowledge it is only those employed by the agency having issues.

I've e-mailed Citizens advice and will call ACAS. Any advice on this one please?

Galloglass

refusal utilize Rishi Sunak's extended furlough scheme

Are organisations in receipt of public funds allowed to access the scheme this time round? Previously they weren't as they would be paid twice.

Jeremy535897

• The government expects that publicly funded organisations will not use the scheme, as has already been the case for CJRS, but partially publicly funded organisations may be eligible where their private revenues have been disrupted. All other eligibility requirements apply to these employers.

From https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced

tooldle

Some Universities have used it for a very limited number of staff, where there is clear evidence of the role not being supported by public funding. None of our sports centre staff are furloughed and a lot of instructor activities have been moved on line. Staff whose work areas were closed have been temporarily redeployed, which is fairly simple to achieve since the institution itself has not closed. 

jon81uk

I think your main issue is you don't work for the university. You work for the unitemps agency. I don't know all the details regarding agency staff and furlough etc but working for an agency is never as secure even in normal times compared to a direct contract