GMB Scotland members vote for industrial action after bosses imposed changes
Home care workers in West Dunbartonshire have overwhelmingly backed strike action after managers refused to pause a controversial restructuring.
GMB Scotland said 73 per cent of the care workers voted in the ballot, with 92 per cent backing industrial action up to and including strikes.
The union has informed West Dunbartonshire Council and the Health and Social Care Partnership [HSCP] and warned industrial action is now inevitable unless managers urgently ease the damaging impact of the new rotas.
AnnMarie Carrigan, GMB organiser, warned time is running out to avert strikes threatening to disrupt the lifeline care delivered to some of West Dunbartonshire’s most vulnerable residents.
She said managers had been given every opportunity to resolve the issues but care workers now suspect there was never any intention to engage seriously with their concerns.
Carrigan said: “We have had meeting after meeting when we have clearly explained, again and again, the very real but needless hardship being inflicted on care workers by the new working patterns.
“Managers would promise to look at ways to ease the pain being felt by our members but, as soon as the meeting is over, simply pressed on with a self-harming plan that is threatening care and upending the lives of some of their most skilled and committed workers.
“It is clear from this overwhelming vote in support of industrial action that our members have had enough of warm words and no action.
“They are dismayed and angry but above all disappointed at being treated with such disregard and disrespect.
“Managers need to urgently return to the table with concrete proposals to find a fair way forward or prepare for strikes that can only cause more disruption to a vital care service built on the shoulders of our members.”
The union, representing home care staff, has campaigned for months on behalf of care workers adversely affected by the new shift patterns.
It said a redesign of the service intended to improve care has sabotaged standards, impacted on workers’ jobs and family life, and caused stress and uncertainty for those they care for.
The union said the two-week consultative ballot has revealed overwhelming support for industrial action and a formal vote will be held before industrial action, up to and including strikes, takes place.
A poll of workers previously revealed nearly nine out of ten (85 per cent) say their mental health has suffered because of the anxiety and stress caused by new working patterns, while 72 per cent said the changes have cost them money because they have been forced to reduce their hours.
Eight out of ten (80%) believe the redesign has impacted their lives away from work while 58 per cent believe the changes have damaged their pensions and sabotaged retirement plans.
But one carer surveyed by GMB said she has already been forced to reduce her hours while many other colleagues are finding new shift patterns and additional responsibilities too much.
She said: “I loved my job and the people I visited, but I just couldn’t cope with the new demands. I ended up in tears every night and just couldn’t keep doing it. It was too much.
“Everybody I know in the service is either dropping their hours or thinking about it. It is so unnecessary and unfair.”
It is a disgrace that low paid predominately women have to take strike action to try and save this caring service which has been butchered by senior managers in the H&SCP aided and abetted by Labour Councillors. The Council voted on two occasions to support our carers, but these pleas were disregarded by the arm’s length unelected quango that is the H&SCP.
The West Dunbartonshire Community Party will continue to support the Council Carers in their struggle to save the service and their hard-fought contract terms & conditions.
I can’t believe the Council will not criticise the HSCP and shout it from the rooftops that they are against better terms for care workers. Have the Council no idea how to campaign for the better deal these mainly dedicated women women deserve? Councillors have a platform to speak out, but it remains forever silent. That’s what they were elected to do, but hye don’t. To eradicate injustices such as this. But then they’re only in it for themselves. That’s councillors have banned The Democrat and locked people out of their meetings. We have a ME FIRST council who should be ashamed of themselves. Don’t forget it’s not just Labour. The SNP are in this scandal up to their necks. The HSCP was introduced by the SNP. A bad mistake if ever there was one – and there are plenty at WDC.