Care workers to strike for first time in over a decade

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In a rare move, care staff across Scotland are gearing up for a national strike over a pay dispute, marking the first major walkout in the sector in more than ten years. The strike, organized by Enable Scotland staff, is set to take place over five consecutive days in various regions, kicking off on 29 May in East Renfrewshire before moving on to Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The series of strikes will culminate in a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament on 12 June.

The Unison union, representing the disgruntled care workers, cited “years of broken promises and delays” by the Scottish government regarding social care reform and funding as the primary reasons behind the strike action. A spokesperson for the union expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to live up to its commitments to care workers, emphasizing the urgent need for change in the sector.

Amidst the growing discontent among care workers, Unison member Anna Baird, who has been a personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years, shared her struggles and frustrations. Baird highlighted the disconnect between the promises made to care workers and the lack of tangible improvements in pay and working conditions, stressing the vital role that care workers play in society and the need for fair compensation.

Unison Scotland regional organizer Jennifer McCarey echoed these sentiments, lamenting the government’s failure to uphold its promises and improve care workers’ pay. McCarey emphasized the crisis facing the care sector and the urgent need for recognition and fair compensation for care workers. Meanwhile, the Scottish government’s Social Care Minister Maree Todd raised concerns about the impact of UK government policies on care services in Scotland, warning of potential closures due to increases in national insurance contributions and proposed cuts to overseas workers

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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