GMB Scotland Media Statement
Sunday, April 12, 2020
GMB Scotland Media Statement: Reaction to Scottish Government "Pay Increase" for Social Care Staff
Responding to the Scottish Government’s announcement today (Sunday 12 April) that a 3.3 per cent pay increase will be brought forward for social care staff in private employers signed up to the COSLA care contract, GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said:
“We’ve been pressing the government hard on the issue of money for carers in both the public and private sector. All key workers need to be recognised for the role they are playing in this crisis.
“Even if this announcement amounts to new money we need to go much, much further, and we need to know the full details of which workers and occupations this will announcement apply too. There is a lot of ambiguity in the Scottish Governments announcement.
“We must remember that many workers in social care, mainly women, are going through hell for less than £10 an hour, and the lowest paid will continue to do so for the foreseeable too. Social care shouldn’t be playing catch up with the supermarkets on pay and conditions.
“Ultimately this strengthens our calls for a reckoning across the care sector. This is a crisis within a crisis and has shown everyone there must be a new settlement for these courageous workers - both public and private. We can never go back to “business as usual.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077
Notes to Editors:
“Pay rise for social care staff”, Scottish Government, 12 April 2020, accessible at: <<https://www.gov.scot/news/pay-rise-for-social-care-staff/
