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STV News
29-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Care workers strike for first time in decade in dispute over pay
Care staff at Enable Scotland have begun strike action, marking the first national care walkout in over a decade. The industrial action kicks off in East Renfrewshire on Thursday and will continue across Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, and Glasgow over the next five days. The strike is a response to ongoing pay disputes and what the union Unison describes as 'years of broken promises and delays' by the Scottish Government to properly fund and reform social care. The action will culminate in a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament on June 12. Unison has assured that 'life and limb' cover will be maintained during the strike to ensure essential services continue. But chiefs warn care staff have been left with no option after being 'consistently let down' by ministers. Unison Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: 'The last thing care workers want to do is strike. It's been a very difficult decision for them. 'But promises of pay increases made by government ministers have been broken and Enable workers' pay has worsened. 'The care sector is in crisis, and the responsibility for that lies squarely with the Scottish government. 'Until care staff are valued properly and paid fairly, the sector will never have the workforce it needs.' iStock Care workers to go on strike beginning Thursday Anna Baird is a Unison member and a personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years. She said: 'I love my job and the people I support, that's why this decision was so hard. But we're at breaking point. 'We've been made promises for years, but nothing changes. Our pay doesn't reflect the responsibility we carry, and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We're just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.' An Enable spokesperson said: 'Enable is disappointed by the decision to strike, but we are working positively with UNISON on our shared principle of minimising the adverse impact of this action on the people we support. Significantly enhanced pay beyond the real living wage is entirely dependent on external funding. 'Enable has worked with UNISON to advance Fair Work across the social care sector for a number of years, and we would welcome a national pay settlement for the charity sector social care workforce which is on a par with pay deals for care workers in the public sector.' Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: 'We value the vital role which social care workers play in delivering high-quality care. 'Pay negotiations are a matter for trade unions and employers and I urge both parties to continue to work together to reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for Enable. 'Our 2025-26 Scottish Budget provides an additional £125m to enable adult social care workers, delivering direct care in commissioned services, to be paid at least the Real Living Wage of £12.60 an hour. This takes our total investment in improving social care pay to £950m.' Enable Scotland and the Scottish Government has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Enable Scotland care workers to begin five-day strike
The walkout, announced by Unison, will be the first national care strike in Scotland in more than a decade. It will start in East Renfrewshire and continue in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, and Glasgow over the following days. READ MORE: Care workers to strike for first time in decade in dispute over pay The strike will end with a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on June 12. Unison said the strike is a result of "years of broken promises and delays by the Scottish government to reform and fund social care properly." They claim care staff have been left with no option after being consistently let down by ministers. READ MORE: Hundreds of Scottish care workers being urged to strike Jennifer McCarey, Unison Scotland regional organiser, said: "The last thing care workers want to do is strike. "It's been a very difficult decision for them. "But promises of pay increases made by government ministers have been broken and Enable workers' pay has worsened. "The care sector is in crisis and the responsibility for that lies squarely with the Scottish government. "Until care staff are valued properly and paid fairly, the sector will never have the workforce it needs." Anna Baird, a Unison member and personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years, said: "I love my job and the people I support, that's why this decision was so hard. "But we're at breaking point. "Our pay doesn't reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. "We're just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.'
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Care workers to strike for first time in decade in dispute over pay
The strike will roll out across five days in different regions, beginning on May 29 in East Renfrewshire and continuing in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will culminate with a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament on June 12. Unison said it is a response to 'years of broken promises and delays by the Scottish Government to reform and fund social care properly', and that 'carers have been left with no other option after being consistently let down by ministers'. It has agreed 'life and limb' cover with the employer during the strike. Anna Baird, a Unison member and a personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years, said: 'I love my job and the people I support, that's why this decision was so hard. But we're at breaking point. 'We've been made promises for years, but nothing changes. 'Our pay doesn't reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We're just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.' Unison Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: 'Strike action is always a last resort. 'But unions representing care workers have been working with the Scottish Government for several years on a plan for social care. 'But not a single promise made by ministers has been kept. In fact, care workers' pay has gotten worse. 'The care sector is in crisis, and that responsibility lies squarely with the Scottish Government. Until care workers are properly valued and paid fairly, the sector will never have the care workers it needs. 'Ministers must fund charitable care properly and act to resolve this issue.' Social care minister Maree Todd said: 'We value the vital role social care workers play in delivering high-quality care. 'Pay negotiations are a matter for trade unions and employers and I urge both parties to continue to work together to reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for Enable. 'Our 2025-26 Scottish Budget provides an additional £125 million to enable adult social care workers, delivering direct care in commissioned services, to be paid at least the real living wage of £12.60 an hour. This takes our total investment in improving social care pay to £950 million.' Enable Scotland have been contacted for comment.
Glasgow Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Care workers to strike for first time in decade in dispute over pay
The strike will roll out across five days in different regions, beginning on May 29 in East Renfrewshire and continuing in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will culminate with a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament on June 12. Unison said it is a response to 'years of broken promises and delays by the Scottish Government to reform and fund social care properly', and that 'carers have been left with no other option after being consistently let down by ministers'. It has agreed 'life and limb' cover with the employer during the strike. Anna Baird, a Unison member and a personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years, said: 'I love my job and the people I support, that's why this decision was so hard. But we're at breaking point. 'We've been made promises for years, but nothing changes. 'Our pay doesn't reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We're just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.' Unison Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: 'Strike action is always a last resort. 'But unions representing care workers have been working with the Scottish Government for several years on a plan for social care. 'But not a single promise made by ministers has been kept. In fact, care workers' pay has gotten worse. 'The care sector is in crisis, and that responsibility lies squarely with the Scottish Government. Until care workers are properly valued and paid fairly, the sector will never have the care workers it needs. 'Ministers must fund charitable care properly and act to resolve this issue.' Social care minister Maree Todd said: 'We value the vital role social care workers play in delivering high-quality care. 'Pay negotiations are a matter for trade unions and employers and I urge both parties to continue to work together to reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for Enable. 'Our 2025-26 Scottish Budget provides an additional £125 million to enable adult social care workers, delivering direct care in commissioned services, to be paid at least the real living wage of £12.60 an hour. This takes our total investment in improving social care pay to £950 million.' Enable Scotland have been contacted for comment.
Rhyl Journal
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Care workers to strike for first time in decade in dispute over pay
The strike will roll out across five days in different regions, beginning on May 29 in East Renfrewshire and continuing in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will culminate with a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament on June 12. Unison said it is a response to 'years of broken promises and delays by the Scottish Government to reform and fund social care properly', and that 'carers have been left with no other option after being consistently let down by ministers'. It has agreed 'life and limb' cover with the employer during the strike. Anna Baird, a Unison member and a personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years, said: 'I love my job and the people I support, that's why this decision was so hard. But we're at breaking point. 'We've been made promises for years, but nothing changes. 'Our pay doesn't reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We're just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.' Unison Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: 'Strike action is always a last resort. 'But unions representing care workers have been working with the Scottish Government for several years on a plan for social care. 'But not a single promise made by ministers has been kept. In fact, care workers' pay has gotten worse. 'The care sector is in crisis, and that responsibility lies squarely with the Scottish Government. Until care workers are properly valued and paid fairly, the sector will never have the care workers it needs. 'Ministers must fund charitable care properly and act to resolve this issue.' Social care minister Maree Todd said: 'We value the vital role social care workers play in delivering high-quality care. 'Pay negotiations are a matter for trade unions and employers and I urge both parties to continue to work together to reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for Enable. 'Our 2025-26 Scottish Budget provides an additional £125 million to enable adult social care workers, delivering direct care in commissioned services, to be paid at least the real living wage of £12.60 an hour. This takes our total investment in improving social care pay to £950 million.' Enable Scotland have been contacted for comment.
