Care employees to strike for first time in over a decade

Care personnel are to move on strike in a pay dispute later this month, within the first nationwide care walkout in additional than a decade.

Enable Scotland personnel will take motion throughout 5 days in numerous areas, starting on 29 May in East Renfrewshire and proceeding in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The moves will conclude with a march and rally on the Scottish Parliament on 12 June.

The Unison union mentioned the transfer was once based on “years of broken promises and delays” by means of the Scottish govt referring to reform and investment of social care.

A spokesperson for the union mentioned Scottish govt ministers had “consistently let down” care employees.

It has agreed “life and limb” quilt with the employer all the way through the strike.

Anna Baird, a Unison member and a private assistant with Enable Scotland for 8 years, mentioned: “I love my job and the people I support, that’s why this decision was so hard. But we’re at breaking point.

“We’ve been made guarantees for years, however not anything adjustments.

“Our pay doesn’t reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We’re just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.”

Unison Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey mentioned “not a single promise” were stored by means of ministers and that care employees pay pay was once now worse.

She added: “The care sector is in crisis, and that responsibility lies squarely with the Scottish government. Until care workers are properly valued and paid fairly, the sector will never have the care workers it needs.”

The Scottish govt’s Social Care Minister Maree Todd mentioned negotiations have been a question for industry unions and employers and that she was hoping an even deal for each events could be reached.

She added: “Our 2025-26 Scottish Budget provides an additional £125m to enable adult social care workers, delivering direct care in commissioned services, to be paid at least the real living wage of £12.60 an hour.

“This takes our overall funding in bettering social care pay to £950m.”

News of the strike came as Todd told MSPs she expected more care services to close in Scotland as a result of UK government policies.

She claimed increases to national insurance contributions and plans to cut overseas workers were “reckless” and “devastating” for the sphere.