The Scottish Green Party must ‘call time’ on the national care service bill in Scotland and end this ‘confused and damaging legislation’, says UNISON today (Thursday).
The union, alongside organisations such as Cosla, NHS executives, the STUC and other groups involved in social care, social work and community health oppose the bill.
UNISON has written to every Green councillor across Scotland urging them to persuade their MSP colleagues to withdraw support for the bill.
The union say that the bill will not address the fundamental problems including the chronic underfunding of social care and the fragmented market model of the care system in Scotland.
UNISON Scottish secretary Lilian Macer said: “Scottish Green MSPs must use their vote to stop the social care bill from going through Holyrood. Key organisations have raised serious concerns that the greens can’t ignore.
“Local councillors play a crucial role in highlighting the potential fallout if the bill is passed including that local accountability will be the first casualty if this bill goes through.
“Councillors must persuade their parliamentary colleagues to call time on this confused and damaging legislation.”
Notes for editors:
UNISON is the largest union in Scotland. Our members work in health, social care, local government, education, police staff, energy and utilities.
Read the letter from UNISON Scottish secretary Lilian Macer here.
The National Care Service (Scotland) Bill has passed Stage 1 and has still to enter Stage 2 – where the Government presents its amendments to the original Bill. The government published draft Stage 2 amendments in June 2024. Since then a range of bodies including the STUC and Cosla have withdrawn support for the Bill.