Care workers employed by Enable Scotland are to take strike action in Lanarkshire tomorrow (Tuesday) in a continuing dispute over pay, says UNISON.
This is part of a co-ordinated wave of walkouts rolling out over five days across Scotland. The industrial action began in East Renfrewshire and continued last week in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire, with further strikes scheduled for Edinburgh and Glasgow over the coming days.
It is the first nationwide strike in Scotland’s care sector in more than a decade, following years of broken promises by the Scottish government to reform and fund social care properly, says UNISON.
The series of strike days will culminate in a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Thursday (12 June).
UNISON Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: “This has been a difficult decision for care workers. But they feel this is the only way they can get the Scottish government to listen to them.
“Care workers in Lanarkshire and across Scotland are standing up for themselves and for everyone who needs their support.”
Enable worker Alfons Crichton, a personal assistant working in Cumbernauld, said: “We love our jobs and we know how much people rely on us. But we are some of the lowest paid workers in Scotland.
“None of us ever thought we’d be on strike, but we’ve had nothing but broken promises. This is about how much the Scottish government really values what we do.”
Notes to editors:
– The strike dates (and picket lines) are as follows:
Tuesday 10 June: North Lanarkshire/Central services staff (Inspire House, 3 Renshaw Place, Eurocentral, Motherwell ML1 4UF)
Thursday 12 June: Edinburgh and Glasgow. A march and rally is being staged at the Scottish Parliament. Assemble at Tron Kirk at 10.30am, to march down High St and rally outside Parliament at 11am.
– UNISON represents around 600 workers at Enable Scotland.
– UNISON has agreed ‘life and limb’ cover with the employer during the strike to protect those most at risk.
– 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.