In an email to all staff yesterday, 4 November, Patrick O’Donnell, YUSU President, announced that all YUSU furloughed staff who have been included in the 30 October payroll will receive 100 per cent of pay whilst on furlough.
In the email, O’Donnell stated that “Whilst the government contribution is limited to 80% of pay, we are committing to top that up to ensure all student staff receive 100% of pay whilst on furlough in November.”
The email also hinted at the possibility of some job opportunities during the lockdown, with O’Donnell mentioning to staff that YUSU are trying to set up takeaway services in YUSU venues, and the fact that “If we can do this there is likely to be a need for a small number of staff to continue to work and support that service.”
Nouse contacted O’Donnell for a statement on the decision, he told us: "I am pleased that we are able to support our hard working student staff members at this time. Our teams have worked tirelessly over the last few weeks, and it is absolutely right that we are able to support them in the coming period.
Looking ahead to the future, I remain really optimistic that we can continue a really successful outdoor offering next term - this remains firmly at the top of my agenda and it is our student staff and YUSU full time staff members that we have to thank for all our successes to date.
I recognise the intense financial pressures on all of our students, so I have asked the University to reopen the student hardship fund at the earliest opportunity and to try to secure additional funds to add to that as a matter of priority. I hope this will provide vital support to all of our student community."
YUSU have also been fighting to “reopen the student hardship fund at the earliest opportunity and to try to secure additional funds to add to that as a matter of priority.” O’Donnell commented that: “I hope this will provide vital support to all of our student community.”
He went on to thank the staff that have worked with YUSU over the beginning of this term, stating that “our return to campus has been incredibly successful, with student groups really keen to book out spaces in our venues for their events, while the overwhelming majority of students continue to follow the guidelines to keep us all safe”. He went on to say: “Thank you again to you all for your hard work and dedication over the last few weeks” in celebration of the hard work that these individuals have been doing in order to keep YUSU running over the previous weeks.
In an optimistic outlook, O'Donnell mentioned that the success of YUSU venues such as The Forest this term “puts us in a really good position for our venue offering in Terms Two and Three and I remain really optimistic that we can continue a really successful outdoor offering next term - this remains firmly at the top of my agenda.”
