Twitter locks staff out of offices until next week, UK trade union raises concern: Report

The offices of Twitter will temporarily close with immediate effect, the firm has informed its staff. A message informing employees that the offices would reopen on November 21, BBC reported. It did not state any reason for the move.

The statement comes as there are rumours that several employees were leaving after the new owner, Elon Musk, told them to commit to “long hours at high intensity” or quit.

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The note continued, “Please continue to comply with company policy by refraining from discussing confidential company information on social media, with the press or elsewhere.”

Unions have expressed concern over the reports, and Prospect, the union representing tech workers, has requested a meeting with Twitter UK to discuss how its employees are being treated.

Prospect has also written to the social media powerhouse to voice its objections regarding Elon Musk’s reorganisation of the business.

Also read: Elon Musk asks, ‘What should Twitter do next?’ after employees resign in hundreds

A week after taking over the firm, the billionaire Tesla owner fired half of Twitter’s 7,500 global employees, put a halt to remote work, and gave the remaining employees the choice to accept longer, more intensive work schedules or quit.

The strategy has led to more employees leaving the troubled internet company, raising concerns that Twitter does not have enough qualified engineers on staff to maintain the platform – some of the departing employees have already been asked to return.

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Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, referred to the ferry operator’s move to fire employees and replace them with agency workers earlier this year and declared, “We will not let these makings of a digital P&O pass unchecked.”

“We are urgently seeking a meeting with Twitter UK Ltd to discuss how it will manage its collective redundancy consultation, ensure a fair and transparent process, and meet its duty of care and legal obligations to employees, including those with particular needs. Prospect will continue to do everything we can to support our members at Twitter. Big tech barons are not above the law and we will hold Twitter to legal account where possible,” Clancy added.