600 Quarriers Staff Threaten To Strike

Hundreds of vulnerable children and adults could be denied vital care if staff at one of Scotland’s largest charities vote for industrial action. Up to 600 workers at Quarriers will decide this week whether to strike over a pay disagreement, with management offering 2.5% while employees want either 3.4% or £600 – depending on which is greater.

However, Quarriers management insists the 2.5% rise is an improved offer which comes with no strings. It also points to recent revelations that charities such as Quarriers are being forced to use their own funds to pay for services they provide for the state as an indication of the financial problems facing Scotland’s charitable.

Public-sector union Unison, which represents more than half the Quarriers workforce, claims the majority of staff are low paid and work in challenging settings.

It also claims that inflation is running at 4.6% and the flat 2.5% offer is unacceptable and unrealistic, and for the first time in recent history staff are prepared to take industrial action.

Quarriers, which started as a children’s charity based in Quarriers village near Bridge of Weir, has grown to provide community care services to a wide range of clients across Scotland and beyond. It also continues to provide residential care and runs the Seafield School for vulnerable youngsters in Ardrossan.

Last night, Simon Macfarlane, regional officer for Unison, said he was conscious of the financial pressures facing charities due to the failure of the state to pay full funds. However, he added: “Quarriers can not abdicate responsibility for the pay of its staff.”

“Our members in Quarriers will be reluctant to take action as it will hit service users, but they have been left with no choice and I am confident there will be a massive yes’ vote in the ballot.

“Our members provide care to some very vulnerable people, some of whom display very challenging behaviour. They do this out of a belief in the importance of this work – not for high financial reward.

“However, they have their own lives to lead, bills to pay and families to support. The point has come whereby they feel their goodwill is being abused. Indeed a number of our Quarriers members are relying on support and assistance from other charities, including Unison’s own welfare charity, due to the financial pressure they are under.

“This is clearly ridiculous when they work for one of Scotland’s largest charities.”

Quarriers chief executive Phil Robinson said he was pleased to see the issue of local authority funding of the voluntary sector being raised as it was an area of great concern.

Mr Robinson said local authority contracts had only increased income by 1% on average, while the 2.5% pay increase Quarriers is offering to its staff is the average being offered across the voluntary sector in Scotland.

He added: “What Quarriers is asking for is that our services should be funded on a like-for- like basis so that our staff are not penalised, otherwise the voluntary sector will continue to subsidise public sector services.

“Unison is quite right to point out that staff at Quarriers are hugely committed to the work they do for vulnerable people, for disadvantaged children and families across Scotland.

“Any strike action could put the issue of services under threat, and would appear to show that Unison is unfairly targeting the voluntary sector in comparison with local authority services.”

History of a charity
– Quarriers was founded in 1871 by Glasgow shoemaker William Quarrier to offer help to thousands of destitute slum children, and Quarriers Village was opened in Renfrewshire.
– Quarriers has cared for more than 40,000 children, providing support for adults and children with physical and learning disadvantages.
– Between 1871 and 1938, Quarriers sent more than 7000 children to live in Canada under a child migration programme.
– 200,000 or more Canadians have roots in Quarriers Village.
– The history of Quarriers was written by Anna Magnusson, daughter of Magnus.