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Date: Monday 27 January 2014
Glasgow's residential care workers embark on further strike action
PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: 1pm, Tuesday, 28 January, 40 John Street, Glasgow
Care workers in Glasgow City Council’s residential homes are embarking on two further days of strike action from today (Monday).
This is the second 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 had no option but to take further action.
Brian Smith, UNISON City of Glasgow Branch Secretary, said:
“UNISON members have been forced to take further strike action as the Social Work Management has made no attempt to resolve the dispute.
“The fact is that care homes would not function without the hard work and dedication of our members and to force them into this difficult position is completely unfair and unnecessary.
“Our members are only asking for what is fair: no cuts in pay, properly identified roles and responsibilities of staff and agreement on any new shift arrangements.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY You are invited to send a photographer, reporter and/or crew to 40 John Street, Glasgow, on Tuesday, 28 January, at 1pm where care workers will be lobbying Glasgow City Council. 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 two days on Monday, 27 and Tuesday 28 of January 2014.
For further information please contact:
Brian Smith, UNISON Branch Secretary, on 07870 914361, and 0141 552 7069
Mandy McDowall , UNISON Regional Organiser, on 07903 846427, and 0141 342 2804
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