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The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Unions demand action from Scottish Government over care worker pay row
In April this year, social care worker pay was increased to £12.60 in line with the Scottish Living Wage. However, unions want to see this increased to at least £15 an hour. Ahead of FMQs, care workers protest pay outside Holyrood with union bosses calling for immediate intervention from the Scottish Government. It coincides with strikes by Enable Scotland workers in Glasgow and Edinburgh Story for @heraldscotland soon — Hannah Brown (@HannahMargBrown) June 12, 2025 It comes as today, protestors set off from Tron Kirk in Edinburgh and marched down High Street to Holyrood, rallying against what the union Unison have described as "years of broken promises and delays" by the Scottish government regarding reform and funding of social care. The demonstration coincides with strikes by Enable Scotland workers in Glasgow and Edinburgh over their pay. The action is part of the first national care strike in Scotland in over a decade, which has already seen walkouts in East Renfrewshire, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. READ MORE: Hundreds of care staff to go on strike over £38m SNP U-turn Attending the protest, Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trade Union said: 'We are here today to support these enable workers who are unfortunately having to take strike action. "They are not doing it lightly. They are striking for better pay and conditions for care workers and this is actually a dispute for the whole care sector.' 'Enable don't hold the answer to paying these workers more. This is an issue that the Scottish Government's going to have to intervene on. These workers deserve to be paid for the very skilled work that they do and we should be starting with a baseline of £15 an hour. 'We need Scottish Government intervention now to ensure that the care sector doesn't collapse. 'We need the government to intervene to give a starting rate of £15 an hour, to give us proper collective bargaining rights across this sector and to make sure workers and charities like Enable are properly paid for the very highly skilled work that they do.' Ms Foyer also said she would like to know 'where the missing millions are' in terms of the Scottish Government's pledge to improve sick worker pay. In May, trade union Unison told The Herald the decision to go on strike was in response to a U turn on a pledge of £38m of extra funding by ministers made in 2021 after it agreed to improve pay and conditions in the sector. Unison Scotland's lead for social care Jennifer McCarey said: 'Care workers have had enough of delays and broken promises and feel they've no choice but to take their protest to the Scottish government.' The union represents around 600 workers at Enable Scotland and has agreed 'life and limb' cover with the employer during the strike to protect those most at risk. Enable Scotland employee Anna Baird said: 'If ministers value us as much as they say they do, then it's time they funded social care properly and paid us fairly. 'We love our jobs and don't want to be on strike. But we are some of the lowest-paid workers in the country and fed up of waiting." The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Lanarkshire care workers to take protest to Holyrood as row over pay intensifies
The action is part of the first national care strike in Scotland in over a decade, which has already seen walkouts in East Renfrewshire, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. Lanarkshire care workers employed by Enable Scotland are to take their protest to the Scottish Government as a row over pay intensifies. Protestors will set off from Tron Kirk at 10.30am on Thursday morning and march down High Street to Holyrood, where a rally will begin outside at 11am. The action is part of the first national care strike in Scotland in over a decade, which has already seen walkouts in East Renfrewshire, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. UNISON Scotland's lead for social care Jennifer McCarey said: 'Care workers have had enough of delays and broken promises and feel they've no choice but to take their protest to the Scottish government.' Enable Scotland employee Anna Baird added: 'If ministers value us as much as they say they do, then it's time they funded social care properly and paid us fairly. 'We love our jobs and don't want to be on strike. But we are some of the lowest-paid workers in the country and fed up of waiting.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Care workers employed by Enable Scotland to take strike action in Lanarkshire this week in continuing dispute over pay
This is part of a co-ordinated wave of walkouts rolling out over five days across Scotland. Care workers employed by Enable Scotland are to take strike action in Lanarkshire this week in a continuing dispute over pay. This is part of a co-ordinated wave of walkouts rolling out over five days across Scotland. The industrial action began in East Renfrewshire and continued last week in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire, with further strikes scheduled for Edinburgh and Glasgow over the coming days. UNISON Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: 'This has been a difficult decision for care workers. But they feel this is the only way they can get the Scottish government to listen to them. 'Care workers in Lanarkshire and across Scotland are standing up for themselves and for everyone who needs their support.' Enable worker Alfons Crichton, a personal assistant working in North Lanarkshire, added: 'We love our jobs and we know how much people rely on us. But we are some of the lowest paid workers in Scotland. 'None of us ever thought we'd be on strike, but we've had nothing but broken promises. This is about how much the Scottish government really values what we do.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Glasgow Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Lanarkshire carers set to strike this week over pay
The walkout, organised by UNISON, is part of a coordinated five-day strike by employees of Enable Scotland, spanning multiple regions. The industrial action began last week in East Renfrewshire, Aberdeenshire, and Ayrshire, and will continue with further demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow. READ MORE: Police staff could strike in row over 'huge cuts' UNISON says this marks the first nationwide strike in Scotland's care sector in over a decade, driven by what it describes as 'years of broken promises' from the Scottish Government regarding the long-promised reform and proper funding of social care services. The current wave of action will culminate in a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Thursday, June 12, where care workers from across the country will call for fair pay and recognition. Jennifer McCarey, UNISON Scotland's regional organiser, said: 'This has been a difficult decision for care workers. But they feel this is the only way they can get the Scottish government to listen to them. 'Care workers in Lanarkshire and across Scotland are standing up for themselves and for everyone who needs their support.' READ MORE: Rail union launches strike ballot after 'unacceptable' pay offer Among those taking part is Alfons Crichton, a personal assistant from Cumbernauld, who voiced frustration at continued low wages and unfulfilled commitments: 'We love our jobs and we know how much people rely on us. But we are some of the lowest paid workers in Scotland. 'None of us ever thought we'd be on strike, but we've had nothing but broken promises. This is about how much the Scottish government really values what we do.' The union is urging the government to engage meaningfully with workers and address the long-standing issues plaguing the social care sector.
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
