Winning for care

Care workers have faced some of the toughest circumstances during COVID-19. Caring for those most vulnerable to the virus, whilst grappling with failures from an inadequate government response, unfair conditions and a dysfunctional care system. But UNISON have been fighting back. And we have been winning. Here, we share some victories from care workers campaigns throughout the UK in the last few weeks. In Norfolk, a care home member contacted UNISON concerned about a lack of masks. UNISON contacted local officials who arranged for 300 masks to be quickly transferred while supply line issues were sorted. In Leeds, a UNISON rep spotted that staff were being issued with out of date face mask. Thanks to the swift and determined intervention of our rep, UNISON escalated this issue quickly with the employer and got them replaced. In the South West, UNISON negotiators and reps negotiated with a care home provider, getting them to agree to pay full pay for anyone self-isolating or off sick due to Covid-19. This affected 1200 members of staff. In Scotland, UNISON negotiated with the Scottish Government and secured the Scottish Living Wage of £9.30 for social care workers for all hours worked from 1st April 2020 In Haringey, the Local Government Branch supported members in challenging one Social Care provider to change their policy and furlough staff who are shielding, to ensure their pay doesn’t drop down to Statutory Sick Pay. In Barnsley, a group of workers in a care home c...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: news