Commenting on an additional £1bn for councils to help them fund social care and extra Covid responsibilities announced in the comprehensive spending review today (Wednesday), UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This is nowhere near enough to reform social care services. It will mean more misery for those who can’t access the support they need.
“The vast majority of workers will also be left with next to nothing save for a small increase in the minimum wage. These are already among the lowest paid employees in the country. They’ve been on the Covid frontline from the start and deserve so much more.
“What’s needed now is a proper plan for reform. A national care service to drive up standards, increase pay and attract much-needed recruits.”
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.
– The union is a member of the Future Social Care Coalition. This new cross-party alliance of more than 80 organisations and individuals is calling for an immediate £3.9bn emergency support fund for the care sector and a fair wage deal for low-paid staff. Members include former ministers Andy Burnham, Sir Norman Lamb and Alistair Burt as well as the National Care Association, the Care and Support Alliance – which includes Age UK, Carers UK and Alzheimer’s Society – and UNISON. The co-chairs are Christina McAnea and Phil Hope.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk