Motion 46
Social Care – Time to Bargain For Better
“That this Congress welcomes the scrapping of the Scottish Government’s version of the National Care Service (NCS) which lost all confidence from all corners of civic Scotland; believes it would have become yet another hopeless and expensive quango; recognises that despite the years of contributions to the Bill process, very little has changed for social carers who are still enduring overwork and underpayment; recognises the need for urgent investment in frontline social care.
“Congress recognises that the role and responsibilities of social carers are rapidly expanding, as proven by win after win in council job evaluation panels; and believes that to meet rising public need due to an aging population and to stem the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, that the Scottish Government and councils must deliver the pay, terms and conditions to match.
“Congress condemns that many private social care employers pay only statutory sick pay; and notes that since 2021, the NCS Bill has cost £28.7m whilst in 2024, the Scottish Government snatched away without consultation the £38m earmarked to deliver sick pay, maternity pay and paternity pay to the sector – the ‘Missing Millions’.
“Congress notes the efforts of those to agree a Scottish sectoral bargaining framework in social care; condemns the failure of the Scottish Government to implement it; and notes that the Scottish Government is continuing to agree a social care minimum without any meaningful consultation with trade unions.
“Congress calls on the Scottish Government to:
- immediately implement and convene sectoral bargaining in social care;
- implement £15 an hour for social carers and a proportionate increase for nursing and ancillary staff, and if it will not, agree with trade unions a timetable on when it will be achieved by; and
- reinstate the ‘Missing Millions’ to deliver sector-wide sick pay, maternity pay and paternity pay.”
Mover: GMB Scotland
RSS