Hundreds of staff working for Enable Scotland are to be consulted on a new pay offer which puts an additional £900,000 into staff pay, says UNISON today (Friday).
A strike ballot at Scotland’s largest social care charity, which was due to close at the end of this week, has been paused by the union following the offer.
If the new proposal is accepted it will lift carer’s minimum hourly rate to £12.20 from April.
The union say this offer is the best that can be achieved through negotiation.
UNISON Scotland social care organiser Wendy Hudson said: “Social care is demanding, skilled work, carried out by some of the poorest paid employees in Scotland.
“While this offer doesn’t achieve everything the union hoped for, it’s the best deal available at this stage.
“Now care workers can choose whether to accept.”
UNISON’s Enable Scotland steward Thomas Baylis said: “Strike action is always a last resort, especially for workers who support some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland. That’s why pay in social care must improve.
“The employer must prioritise its workforce and begin moving towards the urgent pay reform the social care sector desperately needs.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the largest union in Scotland with its members delivering social care, education, local government, NHS, police services, utilities and energy. They are employed in public, private and voluntary sectors.
– Postal strike ballots were issued to 575 Enable Scotland staff from Friday 13 September. The ballot will now be put on hold until the consultation has concluded.
–The consultation takes place for three weeks from Thursday 10 October.