| Date: Friday 14 February
2014
‘Keep Glasgow's older peoples residents safe’ say
UNISON members as strike action goes ahead to defend standards
and wages
UNISON members across Glasgow are embarking on further strike
action after discussions with the City Council this week failed
to reach a settlement.
Members are on strike from 8 am today, Friday 14th until Monday
17th at 8am.
Members have been in dispute since January and this the third
strike action taken by the city’s care workers in response
to the council’s decision to enforce new job roles, longer
shift patterns and pay cuts of up to seven per cent.
UNISON Scotland, the union representing care workers, said its
members were left with no other option in the face of new 12 hour
shift patterns that UNISON believes are unsafe for staff and residents
alike.
A striking UNISON member has written to us saying;
“It's hard as a care worker to see a major safeguarding
problem looming and feeling helpless to avoid it.
"On return to work after the 12 hr shift working pattern
was forced on staff I was working in the specialised dementia
unit.
"The new shift meant I was starting at 8 pm not 10 pm when
some residents would have been prepared to retire to bed shortly,
or already in bed.
"I was working at a ratio of 1:10 on my own. One staff member
cannot tend to the most basic needs, or safeguard ten residents
in a specialised dementia unit from 8 pm when quite rightly adults
are up and about"
Our members will also be leafleting, in an appropriate fashion,
visitors to the homes tomorrow afternoon highlighting the nightshift
staffing levels
Brian Smith, UNISON Branch Secretary says
‘UNISON members have been humbled by the support that they
have received from residents and relatives during the dispute.
Those closest to the service understand the job residential workers
do. The inadequate staffing levels on the new 12 hour nightshift
is a real concern for residents, their loved ones and the workers.
The council must increase the staffing at night across the city.
UNISON questions whether the Care Inspectorate fully understands
what has been happening in Glasgow’s homes since these changes
were made at the end of January.’
Notes to editors
PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY You are invited to send a photographer,
reporter and/or crew to 84 Bell Street,Glasgow on Sunday at 11am
where striking care workers will be meeting. Families of care
home residents have come out in support of care staff and are
available for media interviews. For further information, or to
arrange an interview, contact Brian Smith on 07870 914 361.
Glasgow City Council plans to cut wages of residential home care
workers by up to 7 per cent through the introduction of longer
shift patterns. The move would affect 182 workers, out of a workforce
of just over 500, with 122 full time workers on salaries of £20,000-£28,000
facing a loss of £1495 per year, while 60 part timers face
a loss of £794 per year. The Council is also refusing to
maintain the wages of any worker who has been in a temporary higher
graded post for less than four years. UNISON views this four year
criteria as unacceptably long.
Glasgow City Council wants to alter the job roles of the lowest
paid workers to include the administration of medicines. This
is not in their pay grade. UNISON is calling for properly identified
roles and responsibilities of staff, recognition of the risks
associated with any new roles staff are being asked to undertake,
fair recompense for the new tasks they are being asked to do,
all underpinned by proper training and support.
The strike will take place over three full days starting on Friday
14th 8 am and ending on Monday 17th Feb at 8am
Index
|
