Sack and trace

Call centre staff who find Covid cases in shock after being axed amid pandemic

- Lisa Boyle

A call center tasked with finding coronavirus cases is axing staff… despite Scotland being in the grip of a deadly second wave.

A union leader hit out last night after 18 “critical ” contact tracers were made redundant at Sitel in Motherwell.

Shocked staff has been left devastated after being let go – despite their contract originally being extended until the end of May.

Many of the workers were tier-three staff responsible for informing members of the public who have been in contact with a positive case.

Workers told how they were dismissed on Thursday with just a week’s notice.

David Mox ham, of the Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC), demanded answers on why crucial test and trace staff were being made redundant during the height of the pandemic.