Responding to a halving in the government’s promised £500m investment in the social care workforce, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said today (Tuesday):
“The investment announced in 2021 was nowhere near enough to address the deep crisis in social care.
“It didn’t deal with the poverty wages and absence of sick pay rife in social care. By slashing those already inadequate plans, ministers have proved they have nothing but disregard for the sector.
“With no national standards for pay and conditions, care workers will continue to quit en masse leaving thousands of vulnerable people without vital support.
“Those in need of care and those who deliver it need and deserve a lot better.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk