Responding to a call by the County Councils Network for the government to push back social care reforms, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said:
“It defies belief that the government’s bare bones plans for social care are already crumbling. Neither Boris Johnson nor Liz Truss have delivered on their promises for funding and reform.
“Vacancy rates are rocketing because care workers are underpaid for a difficult and skilled job. Ministers have been warned repeatedly about the crisis by unions and employers, but the government has failed to take meaningful action.
“Council leaders are right to highlight the acute workforce problems but delaying reform isn’t the answer. What’s needed is a fully-funded national strategy that boosts wages, puts quality above profit-making and replaces the current broken, bargain-basement system.”
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:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk