UNISON welcomes the Coronavirus (COVID-19): social care staff support fund guidance, announced by the Scottish Government today (Thursday 25 June), which ensure’s that social care workers will now get normal pay if they are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
The purpose of the fund is to ensure social care workers do not experience financial hardship, if they fall ill or have to self isolate on public health advice. The fund will ensure that care workers who meet the criteria will receive their normal pay which includes: contractual pay, regular overtime and sleepovers.
UNISON has been highlighting this serious public health problem, and we have been lobbying the Scottish government to act since the start of lock down.
Deborah Clarke, UNISON Scotland’s head of community said: “UNISON welcome this announcement. It is a national scandal that social care workers only received statutory sick if forced to isolate on public health grounds. No longer will social care workers need to choose between looking after their families or going to work and putting their colleagues and the people they support at risk. A choice they should never have had to make. This announcement finally solves a significant public health issue which began at the beginning of lock down and has taken months to resolve.
“This is a victory for UNISON. This only happened because UNISON and social care workers themselves have campaigned for change. It reminds us again that decent working conditions save’s lives. And it is vital that all workers have a voice and can lobby together for important changes. I am grateful to all the care workers in Scotland who have spoken out.”
Notes
UNISON is the biggest trade union in Scotland and represents social care workers.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): social care staff support fund guidance, can be read here. https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-staff-support-fund-guidance/pages/fund-criteria/
UNISON Contacts
Danny Phillips, communications officer: 07944 664110
Deborah Clarke, head of communities: 07538 101225