UK architecture studios have been cutting pay and illegally making staff work while furloughed during the coronavirus pandemic, the Section of Architectural Workers union alleges.
Trade union United Voices of the World's Section of Architectural Workers (UVW-SAW) told Dezeen it has received multiple reports of employees being exploited by architecture firms during the pandemic.
"A small but significant number have been asked to continue working whilst furloughed," a UVW-SAW representative told Dezeen.
"The pandemic is being used as a pretence for ignoring disciplinary procedures, forcing through contractual changes to notice periods and salaries, and ignoring existing human resources issues," they said.
Workers "bearing the brunt of this crisis" The union told Dezeen that employees of architecture studios had reported being forced to take pay cuts, work while on furlough and visit unsafe offices. It was also dealing with several alleged cases of unfair dismissal.
"It is workers who are bearing the brunt of this crisis, be that by having to work in an unsafe office, having to pick up work from furloughed colleagues, or by being expected to take pay cuts that disproportionately impact junior staff," said UVW-SAW
Union members have reported exploitation during the pandemic
"Most egregious are dismissal of members for trade union activities, a clear-cut case of illegality," they added.
"In all of these examples, we have b...