‘ Make a change’: Care staff gather at equal pay protest
CARE workers from three different council areas gathered in Glasgow to call for equal pay from their respective health and social care authorities.
Renfrewshire, Falkirk and West Dunbartonshire care workers took over George Square as they called on those in charge to “stop delaying” amid unfair pay allegations.
The row comes after many women in the care sector feel their responsibilities have significantly increased.
Gwenda Helie, a home care worker in Renfrewshire, said they deserve a pay rise as they are doing “lots more things” now compared to before.
The 63- year- old said: “We are on pay scale grade four, but we want five.
“We deserve five. We’re doing loads of things to be in that pay grade.
“We deal with a lot of complex people.
“People that have got mental health [ issues], drug addiction, alcoholism and also we do end- of- life care, which is really important.
“Pay us what we are worth.” An offer had been put on the table for the care workers ahead of the joint gathering, however, it was rejected.
Although the exact details of the latest offer were not revealed, it was described by one worker as “simply not good enough”.
First Minister Humza Yousaf was urged to intervene last week amid concerns that councils are not responding quickly enough to the disputes.
The GMB has warned that higher pay grades could retrospectively be added, with workers claiming up to five years back pay – and effectively bankrupting some councils.
Fiona O’Brien, a home care worker in Renfrewshire and a GMB representative, says the walkouts are based on an “unfair” job evaluation process and carers are doing jobs “way above” their pay grade.
She said: “The job has always been quite complex.
“People with complex needs, the elderly, they’re vulnerable.
“We’re expected to administer medication, which is way above the pay grade that we are. We really shouldn’t be doing that.
“[ The strikes are] because we are basically fighting for fair pay based on an unfair job evaluation process.
“This is to gather awareness that our authority is paying us way less than other local authorities across Scotland.
“For far too long we have been underappreciated, undervalued and underpaid.
“It’s time to make a change.” A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Health and Social Care
Partnership said: “Negotiations between the Health and Social Care Partnership with all trade unions continue.
“A further offer was presented to all three trade unions and Unison and Unite have paused industrial action as they consider this renewed offer.
“Unfortunately, GMB are continuing with industrial action following a consultative ballot with their members.”