Royal Mail has denied claims that they're refusing to pay sick pay to postal workers in Derry.
It's understood that five postal workers in the city have not been paid sick pay for leave they took prior to Christmas.
A spokesperson for Derry Against Fuel Poverty said that one postal worker, who was still ill, told them that they had been off last week and didn't get their sick pay.
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The news has sparked outrage, with a protest taking place outside the local sorting office on Great James' Street on Friday morning.
However, in a statement, Royal Mail denied the claims. A spokesperson said: “There has also been no change to our existing sick leave policy. Any member of staff with genuine and necessary absence for sickness on a strike day will continue to be paid.
"We have seen increased sick leave on and around strike days, and on occasions, we might request a doctor’s note, or, for example, a positive coronavirus test result, to confirm the reason for absence.
“We are proud to provide the best pay and conditions in our industry. In an industry dominated by the ‘gig economy’, insecure work, and low pay, our model sets us apart and we want to preserve it.
"Despite losing more than £1million a day, and already offering a package that pays up to 40% more than our competitors, we have made a best and final pay offer worth up to 9%.”
Sinead Quinn, a spokesperson for DAFP, said the actions of the "massively rich corporation" were "absolutely disgusting".
She added: "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 50 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."
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