- Conference
- 2022 Community Conference and Seminar
- Date
- 26 November 2021
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the £500 Recognition Payment Campaign launched by UNISON Community and Voluntary Sector Branch NI which called for all Community Sector frontline workers to be recognised for their heroic efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, just like their counterparts working in the NHS.
The campaign achieved the desired recognition for a select few frontline worker’s, those employed through the Supporting People Programme, however, this has left many workers continuing to feel forgotten and undervalued.
Community workers who already face significant hardships, through substandard terms and conditions of employment.
Following political intervention all NHS workers in the North of Ireland received a £500 recognition payment for their commitment and services during the Covid-19 pandemic, a welcome development.
It is now time for all frontline workers to be recognised, not just a select few, equality must be a central theme and a core value when recognising essential frontline workers.
When we collectively braced ourselves for the arrival of COVID-19 – Community Sector workers entered the unknown putting their lives at risk, doing so for all of us, now it seems they are less worthy of recognition for these efforts.
Surely, every Community and Voluntary sector worker is deserving of a thank you from government, as any other worker, who through their actions, protecting at risk individuals and families, ensuring that the fight against COVID-19 was effective and coordinated.
We therefore call upon the Community Service Group Executive to work collaboratively with all relevant stakeholders, joining the campaign and demanding that all essential frontline workers across the community sector in the North of Ireland are duly recognised for their work, commitment, and dedication during the ongoing public health emergency.