Motion 47
Social Care
“That this Congress notes after the Fair Work Inquiry and the experience of providing frontline care during the pandemic, social care workers across Scotland were promised progress on fair work in 2021. This was to be delivered by the Scottish Government through the establishment of fair work streams, on pay, terms and conditions.
“In 2023 care workers were promised reform on sick pay, maternity & paternity pay, yet the money to fund that was taken off the table by the Scottish Government resulting in ‘Missing Millions’ to that workforce.
“2024 resulted in a failure to progress improvements on pay and extra funds have been redirected from fair work to address delayed discharge, often channelled straight to private sector employers.
“Meanwhile the fair work employers in the sector who do recognise trade unions and pay decent terms and conditions have been given no assistance to cover higher pay, placing real tension between well meaning employers and the workforce and threatening fair work in the sector.
“The contracting out of care services by the Government or local councils should not be a mechanism to underpay for care, that is gender discrimination sanctioned by UK, Scottish and local government.
“The staffing crisis in care has resulted in migrant workers entering the workforce throughout Scotland, however the VISA arrangement of those workers continues to be a cause for exploitation increasing the need for fair work in the sector.
“Congress applauds the continued efforts of care affiliates to unionise the care sector and calls on the General Council to:
- continue to pressure the Scottish Government;
- call for the profit being made in care to be redirected into service provision and pay;
- call for full sectoral bargaining and support existing collective bargaining structures; and
- call for immediate improvements from the Scottish Government on Pay and Conditions.”
Mover: Glasgow Trades Union Council
RSS