Debt-ridden social workers turning to payday loans
Growing numbers of social workers are falling financial difficulties, with some resorting to high-interest payday loans, according to a support charity. (Pic: Image Source/Rex Features)
11 January 2012
Staff at housing provider to ballot on strike action
Unison is to ballot care staff at housing provider Family Mosaic on whether to strike over proposals to slash pay and increase working hours.
24 November 2011
Council job cuts near 150,000 for the year
Councils across England have shed 145,000 jobs over the past year and the number is set to rise, according to a report published today by the Audit Commission. Unison head of local government Heather Wakefield (pictured), said: "Councils have already made far more job cuts than they said would be necessary. This report shows that the worst is yet to come.”
07 December 2011
Recruitment experts warn councils over social workers' pay
Local authorities need to develop more flexible pay and reward packages for social workers in order to compete for staff in the current job market, recruitment experts have warned.
06 December 2011
Unions lose public sector pensions legal ruling
The trade unions have lost their legal challenge on behalf of millions of public sector workers over what inflation index is used to calculate annual increases to their pensions.
02 December 2011
Quarter of a million social care practitioners on strike
A quarter of a million social care professionals are expected to take part in today's public sector strike over government reforms to pensions.
30 November 2011
Social workers subject to long-term sickness rule change
Social workers and other public sector staff could face a shake up in their sick pay arrangements if the government accepts recommendations made in an independent review, published today.
21 November 2011
Centrepoint staff strike action averted
Strike action at Centrepoint has been averted after the union Unite and the homelessness charity reached an agreement over plans to cut staff pay.
16 November 2011
Centrepoint staff to stage strikes this month over cuts
Unite members at Centrepoint are to go on strike three times this month in response to the homelessness charity's plans to cut staff salaries.
04 November 2011
Questions raised over legality of Unison strike ballot
Doubts have been cast over the legality of Unison's vote in favour of a strike over public sector pensions.
04 November 2011
Unison members back strike action over pensions
Unison members today voted in favour of taking strike action over plans to reform public sector pensions.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison (pictured), said: "The decisive yes vote reflects the deep concern that our members have over government ministers' proposals for their pensions.“
03 November 2011
Unions keep their counsel after revised pensions offer
The government yesterday sweetened its public sector pensions reform plans by offering higher accrual rates and a commitment to no further changes for 25 years.
03 November 2011
Social work unions call for 'substantial' pay rise
Unison has demanded a "substantial pay increase" for social care staff and other local government workers in 2012-13, to prevent more families being forced into poverty.
31 October 2011
Council pins hopes on pay deal to end industrial action
Southampton Council has made a revised proposal to trade unions in the long-running dispute over pay cuts for staff including social workers.
28 October 2011
Doncaster social workers 'must accept pay cut or lose jobs'
Social workers in Doncaster could be forced to accept a pay cut and worse terms and conditions or risk losing their jobs, Unison has claimed.
27 October 2011
Unions mount legal challenge over public sector pensions
Six unions have mounted a legal challenge on behalf of millions of public sector workers over what inflation index is used to calculate annual increases to their pensions.
25 October 2011
78% of social workers struggling to make ends meet
Cuts in wages and rising living costs have left four in five social workers struggling to pay the bills, Community Care can reveal.
12 October 2011
How do employers react to social workers with second jobs?
Social workers looking to make ends meet are being increasingly tempted to take on extra work. How should their main employers react? Louise Tickle reports
12 October 2011
Unison ballots 1 million-plus workers on pensions strikes
Unison is sending out ballot papers this week to tens of thousands of local authority social workers and care staff to seek support for a series of national strikes over proposed changes to their pensions.
10 October 2011
Social workers join strike action in Northern Ireland today
Social workers across Northern Ireland are taking part in strikes today in protest against budget cuts and subsequent workplace pressures.
05 October 2011
