Social Care Staff Vote To Strike

Hundreds of social care staff will strike later this month after voting overwhelmingly for industrial action, union leaders have said. The 600 Glasgow City Council staff had planned a work-to-rule from Monday this week but decided on an all-out strike to raise the profile of their grievance.

They plan to walk out as soon as legally possible, which is likely to be July 24, Unison said. Employees say they have been forced to take the step as the council is refusing to award them better pay and conditions for their increased workload, the union said. The move means thousands of vulnerable people will be left without their usual level of support from social care staff.

Ronnie Stevenson, Unison’s Glasgow convener of social work stewards, said that employees felt that striking was their only option. He said: “They think it is an outrage that they have been treated this way. This is an issue of money and status. They have been abominably treated by the management in all sorts of ways and they have reached the end of their tether and have voted to strike. The only way it will be resolved is if the management return to the negotiating table with us.”

The dispute was sparked by Glasgow City Council’s recent review of the pay levels of its employees. Social care staff claim their workloads have been steadily increasing, and now go far beyond their job descriptions. Workers say as a result many will be forced to take downgraded jobs, and face cuts in their salaries of up to £1,000 a year.

Mr Stevenson said that some of the most vulnerable members of society would suffer as a result of the strike. Among those affected could be methadone users, as the clinics where methadone is handed out are manned by social care staff. Children labelled “at risk” by authorities could also be left without their usual level of help, while vulnerable adults and offenders may also be affected.

Glasgow City Council said they were disappointed at the employees’ decision to take strike action. A council spokesman said: “It is disappointing that Unison have yet again decided to target some of society’s most vulnerable people in attempt to force the council’s hand. Our view has always been that any industrial action would be pre-emptive and unnecessary as the pay and benefits review process at the centre of this dispute is far from over.”