Coronavirus cash boost for Dudley transport workers

Transport workers will see their coronavirus funding quadrupled after council bosses backed down in a pay row.

Drivers providing transport services in Dudley for school children and vulnerable people have been kept on a retainer by the borough council since the lockdown started.

While not working they have received 20 per cent of their wages, but the Conservative-run authority has now agreed to increase the figure to 80 per cent following the intervention of Tory MP Marco Longhi.

It is understood that many firms did not apply for the Government's furlough scheme due to confusion over whether their services would be required during the lockdown.

Dudley North MP Mr Longhi said he had spoken to drivers and firms who said they were struggling to survive due to their income being slashed during the pandemic.

He said "a positive solution for these drivers" had now been reached – and that he was hoping to ensure the 80 per cent payments were backdated to cover the period since the Government's furlough scheme was introduced.

"This virus has impacted so many people in different ways," Mr Longhi said. "A huge credit to the council leader for listening and supporting these hardworking drivers who provide a great service to the children of our borough."

Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley, said: "During this fight against coronavirus I have had to make some tough decisions and have had to make them for the benefit of everybody.

"One such decision was to redeploy our contracted hours for transportation services as schools have been shut. This meant that we kept some cash flow going to these companies but on a much-reduced basis at 20 per cent of their normal income.

"As we have moved through the management of this disease and having been lobbied by Marco Longhi MP, who explained the significant difficulties these companies are experiencing and how we would come to rely again on these services in the very near future.

"I have recently revised this decision and increased the payment to 80 per cent of income as it also mirrors the Government’s furlough scheme for individuals and the self-employed."

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the furlough scheme on April 20, enabling businesses to claim up to £2,500 a month towards staff wages.