Blog: Why this insult to council and school staff can ’ t be allowed to stand

For a moment, imagine you’re a cleaner at your local primary school… Throughout the pandemic you were asked by your employer to go into work. You were told, ‘You’re essential – without you, the school couldn’t open to look after key workers’ children’. You left the house and travelled through the eerie, deserted streets. You waited for the bus for an extra hour, because they only ran a skeleton service at the height of lockdown. At the start, you weren’t given any proper protective equipment – there was a national shortage. But that didn’t stop you going to work, worrying that you were then taking the virus back home to your family. You had to adapt to new regulations and make sure you were socially distanced. It was quite stressful. You don’t even earn £10 an hour. And over the last 10 years, it’s been harder and harder to make it stretch. Despite everything, in a way, you felt proud – your job is vital and you were helping to keep the country going. But after all the sacrifice, stress and strain, you’ve just been told you’re only getting a pay increase of 1.5% – and because inflation stands at 2.9%, that is effectively a pay cut. Imagine. How would you feel? This is what is happening to UNISON members working in councils and schools. School support staff, care workers, refuse collectors, social workers, crematorium workers, library staff, housing officers, environmental health workers, food standards and many more. An army of worke...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Blogs local government Source Type: news