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  • "Care workers should not be getting a cut in their wages indeed care workers need to have their wages increased dramatically to attract more people to train and work with dependent people.
    This problem was almost solved in the 90s when both the Residential Care Association, the British Association of Social Workers and indeed the tehm government agreed to staffing levels, wages adn importantly minimum training needs for these staff.
    Next Social Care was privatised, although a few very rare, providers continue to follow this the "privatisation" has ed a rust toiserable wages fro difficult work adn considering that anyone can do it.
    It is YOUR relatives who need support who are suffering, as well as the employees. we should recognise the importance of supporting other human beings be they children, older people or adults with disabilites, trin them, create a good career structure for the future and recognise that care is difficult needs quality trained satff and also needs to be paid for properly. Even child care, which most peole accept is important does not have good training and support in some places and care of the elderly is dreadful."
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East Lancashire care workers in 40 per cent pay cut fear

10:43am Friday 30th March 2012 in Health Photograph of the Author By Neil Docking , Reporter

RALLY Carers after a meeting to discuss action RALLY Carers after a meeting to discuss action

CARE workers looking after vulnerable adults have slammed proposals which could see their pay cut by up to 40 per cent.

Creative Support staff said they would ballot on strike action during a rally also attended by Alternative Futures Group (AFG) workers at King George’s Hall, Blackburn.

There are around 100 Creative Support staff in Blackburn with Darwen, and nearly 300 AFG workers across East Lancashire who help adults with severe learning disabilities and mental health needs.

Workers said they had been told to sign reduced contracts or face the sack.

Unions said the proposals originated from cuts in central Government funding, which the two care providers’ local commissioners, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, have implemented.

However, both councils said it was up to Creative Support and AFG to decide how they manage making savings.

Tim Ellis, Unison regional organiser, said: “These are huge cuts in front line staff pay. It’s a disgrace because it puts the long serving staff at risk and so too their service.”

Creative Support worker Tania Slater, 54, said staff regularly work 50-hour weeks for salaries of around £18,000 a year. She said: “I absolutely love my job but I feel like we’re being shoved aside.”

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Staff said they had been told that redundancy was not an option, and that some had been offered small compensation payments.

AFG worker Craig Simpson said: “There is no way we can live on the wages they are suggesting. We are scared about losing our homes.”

Julie Cooke, service director at Creative Support, said it had been told by Blackburn with Darwen Council to “deliver efficiencies” in order to protect and retain its services and was taking part in ongoing negotiations.

Neil Campbell, AFG chief executive, said it was not considering making redundancies and would not reduce direct support hours despite “extreme pressures” on its budget.

Harry Catherall, Blackburn with Darwen Council deputy chief executive, said: “We have had to seek savings from external providers but we have not asked any provider to make savings in excess of the level the council has had to bear.”

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