Post-pandemic contract would give low-paid care workers a better deal

Commenting on the Resolution Foundation’s Low Pay Britain report published today (Monday), and its call for the government to give lower-earning workers a new post-pandemic contract, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Care workers have been at the heart of the pandemic, giving their everything to look after the most vulnerable. “Wholesale reform of social care is long overdue, and even when the government eventually announces it has a plan, real change will take time. “But there’s a simple step that can happen now. One that would show every care worker that ministers appreciate what they’ve done to keep the people we care about safe. “The government must ensure every employer in the sector pays its staff at least the real living wage. “Fixing the problem of inadequate sick pay – that’s forced care staff to carry on working when they should’ve been off isolating – should be a close second. “That’s the very least the government should do. These would be the first steps on the long road to fixing the UK’s broken care system.” Notes to editors: – Christina McAnea is speaking at the Resolution Foundation event Earning Back Better, which takes place today from 2.30pm. She will be talking about how low-paid workers have been affected by the pandemic. – The real living wage is £9.50 an hour and £10.85 in London. – UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providi...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release care workers real living wage Source Type: news