National strike `likely to affect` social care services

A national one-day strike over pay by local government workers
is likely to affect the provision of social care services,
according to Unison’s national officer for social services,
writes Katie Leason.

Owen Davies said that the action planned for 17 July will lead
to “substantial disruption” of services, but stressed that branches
are being urged to talk to employers about implementing emergency
cover at a local level.

He added that the intention was not to cause danger to clients
but to “bring home to employers the intolerable pay situation”.
Members had no alternative, but to show their anger in this
particular way, he said.

Local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
voted to take strike action in support of a pay claim of 6 per cent
or £1,750. This rise would bring the minimum wage in local
government to £11,017 a year.

The strike by members of local government unions Unison, TGWU,
and GMB, will be the first national strike since 1989, and will
affect social services, residential care, home care and
education.

 

 

 

 

 

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