Community Care's new financial survey shows that 40% of social workers believe they deserve a 5-6% pay rise in 2008/2009. Is it a pipe dream? If not, how do we deliver it?
Following job evaluation I have this week found that I have been regraded and this means a DROP of over £3000 per year
Hi Lizzy
I'm sorry to hear about the results of your regrading.
So will your pay go down by £3,000 per year? That is awful. Surely that must be so demotivating. Has it affected many of your colleagues?
I think it raises a pretty fundamental question about representation. Who is defending the rights of social workers? Something like this demands strong local, collective action - but it doesnt' appear that either the public sector unions or BASW are either interested or capable of it.
At least BASW are in the news this week talking about trying to work more closely with the unions over pay and conditions. Maybe that will beef up the social work voice with employers.
It looks like council employers have offered staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland a 2.2% pay rise for 2008-9, which unsurprisingly unions have rejected as an insult.
Inflation at the latest count was 4.1% on the widest measure - the retail price index - while the government's consumer price index, which excludes housing costs, stood at 2.5% in February.
What do we think - is strike action on the cards?
Sorry to reply to myself! It seems the two sides are back in negotiations on 2 April and unions expect an improved offer, though I can't see the employers increasing it by all that much (2.5% would probably be the most to hope for). Should this mean strike action?
surely it's got to match the level of inflation? Otherwise we're getting another pay cut...
Looks like the employers have come back with an improved offer - but a barely improved one, at 2.45%.
Needless to say the unions have rejected it and strike action is now looking all the more likely.
HI, But how man yof us will vote for strike action and mean it??
In my area, I know the vote to strike won't get though, it hasn't in previous votes.
People are losing faith with the Unions too
Hi, Payreview has affected many in my area too- some colelgues are going down about £3,000 too- some by £15,000!!!!!- When my collegues went to the Union all they could say is that it was good for the low paid and totally ignored the facts about the people who were asking for help -those who had gone down!!!!???
citty: HI, But how man yof us will vote for strike action and mean it?? In my area, I know the vote to strike won't get though, it hasn't in previous votes. People are losing faith with the Unions too
Strike action is a bit of a joke in social work, what does everyone do when there is a strike? jig their diaries around so that the day is free to sit at home or on a picket... how is that any sort of inconvenience to our employers?
it isnt like we have CP conferences and LAC reviews and legal planning meetings...or a final hearing on a strike day and just dont turn up, and if we did that what would be the fall out? would we be compromising our gscc registration by failing our service users? also, as a profession we are all too conscious of our responsibilities to the people we work with and wouldnd want to jeopordise the services they recieve.....the daily mail would love it if we did.... oh, i can see the healines now, 'babysnatchers take the days off and leave children at risk'.... there would be some way of having a pop...
...not that i am a generalising too much, or spelling that well.....or pessimistic...
anyway, i guess the point i am circumnavigating is: strikes dont work in Social Work, there must be an alternative.
I for 1 will not strike. I did not come into this profession for the money ( I would be stupid if I had) I came in to protect children and I cant do this if I am on the picket line. I am really sorry idf this offends people but I just dont think anything gets done whne you strike in our profession infact it probably gives the families a good excuse to please themselves.
This is a really interesting issue.
There are clear ethical issues about strike action in terms of its impact on service users, and in a sense it must go against your professional values. Do people think the ethically right thing to do for a social worker who is a member of a union to cross a picket line?
My question is whether that means employers have you over a barrel? That social workers' conscientiousness can help prop up unjustifiable pay and conditions, perhaps more so than in other sectors.
Interestingly, BASW - in its current discussions on forging closer links with a union - appears to be taking this debate full circle, by drawing the link between good terms and conditions and the quality of practice within an organsation, in terms of their impact on retention, motivation, levels of absence etc. And then there's the fact, revealed by one of our recent surveys, that 40% of you have taken a second job to make ends meet, which can't be that healthy, either personally or for you rpractice.
This also feeds into the whole issue of whether it's better to have a social work only union - which we no longer have with Buswe having joined Community - or a general union which includes social workers.
Would it be better to have a social work union which took a coherent policy on strike action (i.e. only as an absolute last resort) or do social workers do better in a more general union, where more "militant" professions (particularly in a multi-sector setting such as local government) can take the lead on industrial action with the benefits accruing to all?
I feel that ethically we should cross a picket line to be able to due our duty by the children. What would we say to parents if they prevented us from seeing the children (in effect a picket line). This is not just a job in my eyes and I, in qualifying, stated that I would protect children. I do feel that employers have us over a barrel as does central government. What has effected LA employers more effectively from striking is the withdrawal of goodwill. This means we eork our paid hours and no more. This mean no more working outside of designated hours which we all do. They did it in the northeast (gateshead) and it dfid create a stir in higher management that they could no longer take for granted that workers will work free of charge.
I presume you never go on holiday then? Presumably if you do have the occasional day away the children you protect are not at risk becuse you are away and not on strike?
Nihat Erol: I presume you never go on holiday then? Presumably if you do have the occasional day away the children you protect are not at risk becuse you are away and not on strike?
bit of a silly arguement imo.
What is silly is the preciousness that you feel makes you so indespensable. They must be so grateful that only you can make a differnce to their lives.
Nihat Erol: What is silly is the preciousness that you feel makes you so indespensable. They must be so grateful that only you can make a differnce to their lives.
..... obviously missing the point, and obviously not a social worker... maybe a manager, or a daily mail reader....?
...dont bother me with your sarcasm.
I have to say that I dont think it is silly to take repsonsibility for your actions. I do take holidays and take daysd off and when I do we have a system in place that means that a back up worker is aware of what is happening with your cases this means that on a daily basis the services user can contact SS dept and speak to someone who is aware of the situation. It is only my opinion but I really didnt consider becoming a SW by looking at the salary first. I get very sick of the way central government treat workers and local authorities but there are plus sides like flexible hours training etc. I rally dont think that striking is the answer and maybe working to rule would be a better way forward.
Funny old world when you think its only mangers and daily mail readers who think its ok to strike. Actually I am a social worker with 26 years of experince but clearly not as professional as you.
What do people think about teachers decision to strike on thursday over pay? Apparently it is the first time for around 20 years.
This has been a really good debate. Just to throw something into the fire it looks like Unison members are going to be balloted on strike action.
Which way are people going to go?
Personally, I'd not want to strike. It doesn't feel right to me. I don't dispute the right of others though, as long as I am not ostracised for not wanting to work through it. I have worked through a few strikes and worked, meaning crossing picket lines to man phones etc and been made to feel very uncomfortable as a result.
If I respect others' right to strike, I would expect that I am afforded the same courtesy. I agree with Lins that if anything, work to rule would be a better way of going.
If it's any help. we also have the same situation in Australia.
Social Workers can and are often taken for granted. We do care for our clients/patients/service users etc, and are less so to strike action. Nurses will strike, teachers, police, etc etc. It appears that we do not have an effective union to represent our true needs, leading to many social workers being paid such low wages. I was offered a full-time forensic position for £21.999, yet in another area I was offered £32,596. Same position, same title, just a different council area. WHY?
Yes, I too became a social worker not for the money, but at the same time, we had to attend university (4 years full-time). Gave up my other job to train and study. So I believe in a fair pay salary scale. We have families, mortgages, council tax etc to pay, have a huge responsibility, lone worker, travelling long distances, early mornings, late nights.
I became a locum worker. Yes, the money was great, but I worked for it. Living away from home for months at a time, having to pay to stay in hotels B&B etc, the cost adds up.
Strike if you like, feel free to voice your concerns, but what we do need is a united front when it comes to organising ourselves and challenging the government.
God Bless.
Rev Jack
The last time we were balloted for strike action, I voted 'no'. However this time, I will vote yes. I, like the others on this post, did not come into social work for the money. The government bases the increase in pay on the consumer price index, which is why we, and other public sector workers, were offered around 2.45%. Recently the Bank of England stated that this CPI had now increased to 3% and was likely to reach 3.7% by the end of the year. The retail price index has always been higher, as this takes into account fuel, and the impact this has on other prices when it increases. I find the offer of 2.45% insulting for the work that we do (including all the additional hours we put in, unclaimed), and this would effectively be a pay cut. I still have to find money to pay all my (rising) utility bills, food shopping, child care etc. and consider that we are entitled to a fair pay increase to reflect these rising costs. Even if we strike, I know that many of my team still go in and do the work, but at least it would send a message to the government.
We've discussed this before but I just thought I'd throw this out again - what do people think about the links between pay and conditions and good practice (which forms part of BASW's case for forging closer links with a trade union)?
That fighting for better pay - up to and including through strike action - is justifiable in terms of the notion that better paid staff enjoying enhanced working conditions have higher morale and have less need to take on a second job, improving practice overall.
Oh dear, Rev Jack!!! Advocating Strike action - hardly in line with biblical precepts about accepting wrong - ' turning the other cheek.'
Don't get me wrong....I want to be paid a completive salary that allows me some "luxury" in my life (at this time luxury might be paying the electric bill) because of the stress of the job that I do. However, I believe that there is an overall lack of recognition in what we do, how hard we work and what complications that we have to endure and this is reflected in our salaries and low pay increase offers.
It looks like Unison is going to go ahead with a strike. Members backed a walkout by 55% to 45% - interestingly a similar majority to last year when the idea was rejected by the leadership - and negotiators have now tabled a two-day strike for July 16 and 17.
This now has to be ratified by the union's industrial action committee, but I don't see it doing anything other than rubber stamping the decision.
27% turnout.. the figures need to be put into that context. I am a member of Unison but realistically, I don't expect there to be any budging on the pay deal in the current financial climate. I respect the right of those who wish to, to strike, but I don't feel comfortable doing so myself.
Why do we continue to have an old school idea that 'we don't do this for the money'?
Good point on the turnout figures cb, though I guess these ballots - sadly - don't tend to receive a comparatively high response.
It does seem inconceivable that the employers will up the offer. Not only can they not afford it (apparently most councils have budgeted 2.5% for pay) they will receive no little pressure from the Treasury to stand firm.
But nevertheless the strike appears to be definitely on. Will many people be joining the picket line?
In response to your question on how many will be on the picket line- well I know that if I was in work on those days, which thankfully I wont be, . I would find it very difficult to go on strike as I would be the only manager to strike. The pressure from above and on my level would be immense- we dont have a strong enough Union to support peopple like me who have this terrible pressure not to strike. I know they are not allowed to put pressure on you but the reality is that they do and for ever after the strike- they have ways of making you feel very uncomfortable when you do strike.
I feel very bad stating this as I have been an union member for 34 years and have been on the picket lines for every stike action during that time - but , I do not feel strong enough to put my job in jepardy, or have the stress afterwards from collegues.
Do others feel the same or is this just the culture in my authority/service?
Why are you so certain that the employers can not afford to increase their offer? Do you know the percenatge settlement they agreed for senior social care managers? I suggest you check this out before you do their propaganda for them. I will be on the picket line even if I thought there was no possibility of winning. Why should we subsidise their perks and council tax bribes?
Ofcourse they will put us under pressure, its their one chance to strutt around in their macho glory. Do you know how much the pay award for senior mangers was? Find this out, you will be surprised, and confront them with it just as I will be doing when they denigrate and abuse me for going on strike.
cb, if there is an increase to the original offer on the back of an strike will you accept the new deal or will it make you uncomfortable to get the better offer?
Chief officers appear to have been offered the same deal as everyone else - 2.45% - though I take your point, Nihat, about perks.
I work for the NSPCC and have just been informed that I will recieve a 2.5 % pay rise in July which we all accepted.
Yeah, probably everyone is offered the same percentage. However, for some people a lower increase will mean the difference between affording one or two holidays a year, while for others it will mean keep or lose their home because they may or may not still afford their mortgage. As for working office hours only, I find this the least workable idea of all. I have recently acted as appropriate adult for a young person in a interview which extended till well into the evening. I do not think anyone would have been amused if at 5 pm I would have said that I am leaving. And such things do happen on a daily basis.
I, personally, will strike. I have a mortgage to pay. I am doing this job because this is my vocation.However, it is a job and not a hobby. I work without looking at the clock and I take abuse on a daily basis from my service users. I do not see why I would not deserve a fair pay. The alternative for me is either joining an agency or leaving Social Work altogether. My salary does not reflect even by far the level of responsibility and stress that comes with this job.
Thanks Lins. How are things going union-wise at NSPCC since BUSWE came under the banner of the Community union? Would be good to hear about pay settlements at other non-council organisations.
Just to let you all know Unite has also voted in favour of industrial action and will be joining Unison's walkout on the 16th and 17th of July.