In an unprecedented move Cornerstone, one of Scotland’s leading social care charities and Scotland’s largest social care union UNISON have today (Thursday 23/10/2/5) joined forces to call upon the Scottish government to recognise the immediate threat of industrial action across the sector and urgent need for significant investment.
In a joint letter they have called for the government to recognise the social care sector as an essential part of Scotland’s social and economic fabric and question the government’s ability to deliver on its ambitions for dignity, equality, and wellbeing without decisive action on social care.
In summary, the joint letter asks for commitment to proper and sustained funding that ensures:
- The immediate commitment to a minimum £15 per hour rate of pay for all frontline social care workers
- Sufficient ongoing funding to maintain fair pay differentials for all other staff across the workforce.
- Implementation of sectoral bargaining in Scotland for Social Care in 2026/27
- Recognition that care work in the voluntary and private sector is undervalued and only pay parity across the sector will bring equality.
- Services that are stable, resilient and sustainable, and able to meet the needs of the people who rely on them.
- The sector is recognised as an essential part of Scotland’s social and economic fabric.
Hazel Brown, Chief Executive of Cornerstone explains: “This is an unprecedented move which sees Cornerstone and UNISON join forces in making an approach to the Scottish government, despite being in dispute and facing the prospect of industrial action. Our unusual joint approach reflects the constructive relationship we have with UNISON and our shared conviction that social care workers in the Third Sector deserve far better. But it also serves to demonstrate the strength of feeling and urgency of the moment.
“Social care workers are a vital part of Scotland’s communities and economy, and they deserve pay that recognises the challenges, skills and professionalism required of their roles. Recent pay negotiations have become protracted and increasingly difficult, and we now face the real possibility of industrial action along with other providers in the sector. We are asking the Scottish government to commit to sectoral bargaining, allowing for issues around pay differentials to be addressed and ensuring long-term pay parity across the sector that sees staff rewarded on the same basis as colleagues doing the same or similar jobs in local authorities and the NHS.
“We are of the joint opinion that only immediate, meaningful investment by the Scottish government can deliver a sustainable sector capable of delivering the care, dignity, and fairness that the people of Scotland deserve. We will continue to engage in constructive discussions with UNISON to do all that we can to avoid industrial action, but without urgent intervention, the sector as a whole is at serious risk of collapse, leaving some of our most vulnerable citizens at risk and causing significant job losses across the country”.
Peter Hunter, UNISON Regional Manager UNISON said: “UNISON has good industrial relations with Cornerstone. We understand the financial constraints the charity is coping with.
“Our joint demands are no more than what social care staff have already been promised by the government.
“Staff have had four years of broken promises. The Scottish government pledged to invest into pay and conditions. This has not happened, and this group of workers remain some of the lowest paid workers in the country.
“Social care staff have no choice but to stand up for themselves.”
Editor’s Notes:
The full letter can be read here
Cornerstone is a leading social care charity and expert provider of services to people with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs in Scotland. Since being first established in 1980, Cornerstone has grown to become one of the largest care providers, with ten branches across the country.
UNISON is Scotland’s largest union, with more than 150,000 members providing public services in social care, education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Cornerstone’s vision is to be the first choice for expert care and support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs in Scotland.
Cornerstone has three main strategic aims;
To be an expert provider of services to people with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs
To be the best employer in social care in Scotland
To achieve stability and sustainability which supports future developments
During 2024/25 Cornerstone supported 1,817 people across Scotland through a variety of care and support services, and a Self-Directed Support (SDS) Advisory Service. Cornerstone had 72 registrations with the Care Inspectorate, spread across ten branches. The range of services include 24 hour support, community support, day opportunities, housing support, care at home, residential care homes, Self-Directed Support, Shared Lives, short breaks and respite, specialist residential services for complex needs, and supported living.
With over 45 years’ experience in delivering great care and support, and as a leading social care provider, Cornerstone is transforming social care through a culture of trust, empowerment and teamwork. The charity is guided by four core values; caring, person-centred, professional and pioneering and places the people they support at the heart of everything they do.
With a focus on increasing social inclusion and reducing loneliness as well as improving health, independence and wellbeing, Cornerstone teams work closely with the people they support to set goals and ensure they have the high quality care and support they need to live the best possible life.
Cornerstone’s fundraising team contribute to progressing organisational strategic aims and helping the people we support to live their life to the fullest. During 2024/25 thanks to our amazing funders, corporates and loyal supporters an incredible £250,905 was raised from a wide variety of sources including grant funders, charitable trusts and foundations. Community fundraising, events and challenges, individual giving, weekly lottery and corporate partnerships also played an important role in generating vital fundraised income. In 2024/25 our Quality of Life and Service Fundraising Programmes disbursed over £57,000 in support of applications for the people we support to take part in all sorts of activities, purchase equipment, make special trips and tackle housing improvements.