Anger over Welsh social care provider decision to sack all 300 staff

Union UNISON has reacted angrily to the decision of Welsh social care provider Anheddau Cyf to dismiss its entire staff of 300 people and re-engage them only if they accept swingieng cuts to their terms and conditions.

Anheddau, which supports adults within their communities for Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy and Denbighshire Councils, has a budget shortfall due to costs of implementing the national living wage which has yet to be met by the commissioning councils.

UNISON say they offered to go with Anheddau to lobby the Councils who buy the service, MPs, AMs and Ministers to try and get more funding to at least cover the cost of the service but the union say Anheddau rejected all suggestions put forward.

Geoff Edkins, UNISON Cymru Wales regional organiser said: “Our members provide 24 hour care, 7 days a week for vulnerable adults in the community. It is not fair that Anheddau expects its own staff to fund the vital care service they provide with an attack on their terms and conditions. Whilst the financial crisis was not of Anheddau’s making, dismissing staff who cannot afford to agree these cuts is not the right way to save the service.”

UNISON has lodged a formal dispute with Anheddau and asked them to return to the negotiating table. Additionally the union has written to Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford AM to raise their concerns and ask for his support. UNISON is consulting members over action they wish to take to protect their jobs and the essential service they provide.