International Solidarity
British welfare unions fight for pay
08 August 2002
UNISON, the UK's largest trade union, has warned that the government could not deliver improved social services for older people while staff remained underpaid and overworked.
While welcoming increased spending on social services, UNISON was deeply sceptical that ministers had any real appreciation of the obstacles blocking the delivery of such improvements.
UNISON National Officer Owen Davies said:
"Contact within 48 hours and assessment within one month are impossible without a big boost to staffing levels and a major effort by ministers to restore the confidence and trust of staff," he said.
"The first step must be a clear sign from ministers that they will allow some of the extra money to be invested in better salary levels for staff. Social services departments and other social work agencies are crippled by low pay, understaffing and overwork.
"If there is not recognition of the need to increase the 3% pay offer in local government, for a start, staff will treat the announcement of improved services as an empty promise which is bound to be broken."
UNISON is seeking a £1,750 or 6% pay rise for 1.3 million local government workers, including social care staff. The employers offer of 3% was rejected by UNISON members, who took part in a one-day national strike on July 17. Further pay talks at Acas, involving the trade unions and the employers, are on-going.
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