UNISON Scotland, the largest union for care workers, has announced today (Tuesday) that staff at Enable Scotland have voted to take strike action in a dispute over pay.
This marks the first time in more than ten years that social care workers in the charitable sector have voted to strike, says the union.
The formal ballot, which closed yesterday, saw 93% of those who voted supporting the call for industrial action.
UNISON Scotland area organiser Wendy Hudson said: “Care workers, who look after some of the most vulnerable people in society, are struggling to make ends meet because they’re not paid enough to live on.
“Five years on from the first Covid lockdown, the care workforce shouldn’t be left with no option other than to strike for a fair wage. More value must be placed on the work care staff do.
“Enable Scotland is one of the better employers in the care sector. But without proper funding from the Scottish government, care workers will continue to be let down. Ministers must fund charitable care properly and act to resolve this issue.”
UNISON regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: “The care sector is in crisis. Care workers must be able to negotiate their pay at a national level with government, as health and council staff currently do.
“The recruitment crisis in social care won’t end until care workers are valued for the vital work they do and given the fair pay they deserve.”
UNISON steward, and care worker, Kim O’Donnell said: “Every care worker in Scotland was let down by the Edinburgh government when it withdrew promised funding that deepened the crisis in the care sector.
“This vote from Enable Scotland reflects how undervalued care workers feel. They want to be respected for the work they do and paid a decent wage.”
Notes to editors:
-UNISON represents around 600 workers at Enable Scotland.
-UNISON is Scotland’s largest union, with more than 150,000 members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.