Staff at Quarriers accept cuts in pay and conditions

Social care charity Quarriers has today come to an agreement with its 2,000 staff about proposed changes to their terms and conditions.

Quarriers entered into a formal 90-day consultation process on 17 July 2009, to discuss proposed alterations to staff contracts and working conditions. The organisation was seeking to make the savings needed to meet its funding deficit and help it continue to deliver the same high standards of service to the vulnerable people within its care.

Now – after successful negotiation with care sector union UNISON – agreement has been reached.

UNISON members voted in favour of the proposed changes in a ballot earlier this month.

The changes to terms and conditions will include:

•    Night enhancement: the current policy of paying staff extra money over and above their salary for working night shifts will be phased out during 2010/2011.

•    Public holidays: from 2010 half of Quarriers’ employees existing public holiday entitlement will be transferred to their annual leave entitlement. Quarriers will honour its staff’s 2009 festive public holidays.

•    Sick pay: reduced sick pay allowance in line with other social care organisations. The new allowances depend on the length of service of the employee.

•    Lease cars: staff lease cars will be phased out over the next three years.

•    Cost of living: there will be no cost of living pay increase for Quarriers’ employees in 2009.

Phil Robinson, chief executive of Quarriers, said: “These are difficult times for the social care sector across the UK and Quarriers is not immune to the challenges social care charities are facing.

“Organisations across the sector are struggling with funding shortfalls and local authorities – who are the main sources of funding for our organisation – are now operating in a very challenging fiscal environment.

“As a result, Quarriers needs to reduce its costs in order to continue to provide the current level of service to some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland and across the UK.”

Mr Robinson added: “The changes we are introducing will put Quarriers in a competitive position for the future and allow us to deliver the same high standards of service to the 18,000 people within our care.

“We must thank UNISON for their cooperation during the consultation period. But the biggest thanks must be made to our staff for their patience and continued commitment.”

Stephen Brown from UNISON said: “Following four months of lengthy negotiations our members voted to accept these new Terms and Conditions.

“We recognise there is a funding shortfall but the problems for Charities and Voluntary Organisations such as Quarriers stems from a drop in funding following the Scottish Government’s concordat with Local Authorities and subsequent cuts year on year. In March of this year UNISON presented a petition to the Scottish Government calling for Full Cost Recovery for the Third Sector which was forwarded to the Local Government committee of the Scottish Parliament. This was backed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.

“Our members are highly professional and totally committed to the Service Users they support and wish to see their hard work recognised and regarded by the Scottish Government and Local Authorities through improved funding.”

Quarriers supports an estimated 18,000 people through its 100-plus projects across the UK.  It provides much needed care and support for thousands of vulnerable children, young people, adults and families who face extremely challenging circumstances such as homelessness, learning and physical disabilities and epilepsy.

Founded in 1871 by William Quarrier at Bridge of Weir, just outside Glasgow, Quarriers employs around 2,000 staff and has an annual turnover of £40 million.