Voluntary sector funding cuts mean services 'on the cheap'

By Chris Bartter

UNISON members are angry that funding has not been given to provide pay increases in the Community and Voluntary Sector similar to those in the local authority or healthcare sector.

The union represents 6,500 workers in the Community and Voluntary Sector, and is angry that Scottish councils have cut funding to social care providers in the sector, whilst funding to private care homes increases by 10%.

Speaking at a Quarriers staff conference in Paisley, Community and Voluntary Sector Regional Organiser, Matt McLaughlin said, "During this years pay talks community and voluntary sector providers across the board have told us that local councils have either cut budgets or expect them to deliver more services for the same money. One council has apparently told a provider that they should deliver 4% more care for no more money."

Commenting on the outcome of such actions Matt said, "Put simply it can't go on. Staff in the sector are amongst the worst paid and this years pay round will do nothing to bring them onto a level playing field with their local authority and NHS colleagues.

"We recognise that local councils have themselves been the recipients of less than adequate grants in the last allocations, but providing services on the cheap by not funding other providers fairly is not the answer.

"It has been suggested that some providers are subsidising the provision of statutory care from reserves and surpluses on other contracts. In short, money that should be used for staff training and for the development of new services for service users is being used to underwrite Scotland's councils, whilst private sector care homes get a 10% increase in their funding."

Matt ended by saying, "For our members in the Community and Voluntary Sector this is a real slap in the face. Despite their work and effort, if this continues they will be destined to subsidise local councils and now the private sector."

headlines . top