Blog: Now is the time to end this national scandal

I’m delighted that UNISON is co-hosting our first virtual rally for care workers this week as part of our new Pay Fair for Care campaign. Social care is a subject close to my heart, as I’m a long-term advocate for care workers and co-chair of the Future Social Care Coalition. One of my priorities as UNISON general secretary is for the union to lead ​a long-overdue revolution of the social care system. The time to act is now. If the COVID-19 crisis has taught us anything, it’s that the nation’s attitude to social care needs a complete rethink. Not tinkering with, not a new headline-grabbing strategy or plan. But a complete bottom-to-top, start-from-scratch reboot. That’s something UNISON has been saying for years. The care system does not work. We need a national care service – like the NHS. Care workers need parity of esteem with their colleagues in the health service. We’ve seen how the two systems are completely intertwined – if one fails, so will the other. Social care can no longer be treated as the forgotten frontline. Social care is full of the most incredible people doing the most amazing work under the most unimaginable circumstances. But they are not respected or valued enough by government or their employers. Care workers are often paid poverty wages by care companies, while  many get no sick pay. This is a system where three out of four workers are paid below the real living wage, where they have to use food banks to put food on their own tab...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: General secretary's blog News care Christina McAnea pay fair for care Source Type: news