Celebrities back call for fair pay for care workers

Joanna Lumley and comedian Jo Brand are backing a national campaign day today (Wednesday) organised by UNISON to urge the government to end poverty wages for care staff. Both performers have recorded individual video messages of support for the Pay Fair for Care online rally, which is expected to be attended by care staff, politicians, unions, charities and employers. Many employees in care homes and those looking after people in the community earn less than the real living wage of £9.50 an hour (£10.85 in London). UNISON – the biggest union representing care staff in the UK – wants ministers to ensure every care worker is on the real living wage rate as a bare minimum. More than 21,000 people have already signed a parliamentary petition* calling for a £3.9billion special support fund to make fair pay a reality for care staff across the country. In her message, Joanna Lumley highlights how care workers are an ‘invisible part’ of the health system and the ‘forgotten ones’. The actor says: “I’m backing UNISON’s call for a living wage for all care workers. They seem to be the invisible part of our nation’s health system. “It seems massively unfair they’re the forgotten ones. These people who do so much for so many people, so selflessly, 24/7. “Thanks to you, you’re keeping the country going. So, bless your sweet hearts and, as Patsy would say, ‘Cheers, sweeties. Thanks a lot’.” In her video, Jo Brand says: “In a parallel univer...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release care jo brand joanna Lumley Source Type: news