The trade union said it has been inundated by reports that construction workers continue to turn up for work at non-essential sites, and are having to use public transport or shared transport in order to comply with employer requests or face losing wages.

It has also repeated its call that the Scottish Government follow the Welsh Government’s lead and introduce legislation compelling all employers to make sure their workers keep two metres apart.

The announcement followed a virtual meeting held yesterday involving construction representatives across the country.

John Gillespie, Unite Scotland construction chair, said the vote re-confirms the position that the union’s construction members do not wish to return to non-essential work “until their safety can be guaranteed”.

He added: “We do not feel that the curve has been reduced to a level that takes enough pressure off our vital NHS workers in Scotland, and that construction workers should not be used as test subjects by building luxury flats to get an economy moving that values wealth at the expense of our health.”

Steven Dillion, Unite Scotland regional coordinator, said: “Unite’s members and their families must be protected. There is absolutely no benefit of trying to force workers back to work when their health is not protected. The construction industry has enough hazards as it is without throwing a deadly virus into the mix.”

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