UNISON commits to campaign for a national care service

On the second day of UNISON’s national delegate conference, the union unanimously voted through a motion to campaign for a national care service. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the social care sector and care workers. Tens of thousands of elderly and disabled people have died from COVID-19 in care homes and other care settings across the UK since March 2020, and the death rate among care workers has been particularly high. UNISON believes that the UK needs a national care service that brings about consistent standards of care for the elderly and disabled, and consistent terms and conditions for the workforce. Introducing the motion, UNISON NEC member Helen Davis described how people are leaving care work for cleaning work due to the poor conditions. Ms Davis urged members to ensure that calls for a national care service did not result in “a race to the bottom in the treatment and pay of workers.” Gilly Anglin-Jarrett, East Midlands regional delegate, introduced an amendment to the motion that would document the union’s concerns about any responsibility for social care belonging to quangos, who would implement a market-based system. She said: “the care sector is a profession, and councils and providers have tried to de-professionalise that role.” Ms Anglin-Jarrett described how, during the pandemic, she supported care workers who had tested positive for COVID-19 yet were told by employers that they would not be paid. Elizabeth Cameron (pictured), ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News 2022 National Delegate Conference adult social care Source Type: news