- Conference
- 2022 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 1 January 2022
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that the Covid-19 pandemic has drawn attention to a previously hidden problem in this country. The shocking lack of support many workers get when they are sick. These issues are well known to UNISON members who work for a variety of different private contractors in our public services.
The Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) system is grossly inadequate, and forces too many people to work when sick, borrow money from family and friends, go into debt or take annual leave as an alternative.
Conference notes that TUC research shows the weekly UK SSP rate is one the lowest in Europe. Conference is concerned that inadequate sick pay is an issue particularly affecting the lowest-paid, those precariously employed and those whose jobs have been outsourced and privatised, such as our members working across social care.
A decent system of sick pay is also particularly important for disabled workers who may have to take time off due to their impairment. Where a worker has a cancer diagnosis for example, and their rehabilitation takes longer than the 28 weeks allowed for SSP pay, they may be forced onto inadequate levels of Employment Support Allowance of £74 a week or of Universal Credit. It is also important to note that SSP is funded by employers and not by government, which leads to some employers being reluctant to hire disabled workers due to the perceived potential for having to pay sick pay.
A stronger right to paid disability leave would mean disabled workers could take time off relating to their disability at their normal rate of pay without having to go onto the pitiful £99 a week SSP, but most employers are unaware they might have a duty to provide this and disabled workers are stuck with SSP instead. Conference notes UNISON’s guide to bargaining for disability leave policies which can be negotiated directly with employers in the absence of government action. when they are ill.
Conference believes that every worker deserves full sick pay now.
Conference also believes that where UNISON reached agreements with public service employers that workers on private contracts such as care workers would receive full pay during the pandemic if they were shielding, self-isolating or off sick with covid, then lives were saved.
Conference therefore calls on the National Executive Council to:
1) Continue to publicise the problems with sick pay for low paid workers and the inadequate level;
2) Work with service groups and branches on local and national pay claims for improved occupational sick pay with employers, starting with those sectors and workers currently most affected by inadequate sick pay;
3) Work with the Private Contractors Forum on company pay claims for improved occupational sick pay with employers at local and national level;
4) Campaign for a Statutory Sick Pay system linked to the Real Living Wage
5) Campaign for a sick pay system that starts on day one without any lower earnings limit or earnings threshold
6) Work with the National Disabled Members Committee to draw up a list of other improvements to sick pay for disabled workers including extending SSP beyond 28 weeks as a reasonable adjustment where the worker is disabled, such as in cases of cancer, exploring calls for a government funded SSP system for small and medium sized employers; and actively encouraging branches and service groups involved in national bargaining to negotiate disability leave agreements with employers.
7) To seek support of Labour Link to campaign for the Labour Party to commit full statutory sick pay for all in the next manifesto.