By Charlotte Webster-
Adults’ social workers and occupational therapists will be back on strike on Monday (12 June) in pursuit of pay equality with children’s practitioners at their authority.
The latest sixth, day of strike action by the UNISON members at South Gloucestershire Council comes with the authority having set up a “benchmarking exercise” with the union in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
An adult social services strike could have immediate and profound implications for the sector itself. The delivery of essential care and support to vulnerable individuals would be severely disrupted whilst workers are on strike. Service users would experience a significant decline in the quality and continuity of care, leading to increased distress and potential harm. The strike would also place additional strain on the remaining workforce, further exacerbating existing staff shortages and increasing workloads.
This would undermine the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the adult social services sector.
Strikers want to see policy and legislative changes. The strike could prompt policymakers and lawmakers to review existing legislation and regulations related to equal pay, with a specific focus on the adult social services sector
Historically, jobs in the caring professions, including adult social services, have been undervalued and predominantly occupied by women. This has resulted in a persistent gender pay gap, where women earn less than their male counterparts for comparable work. The strike in adult social services would bring attention to this issue, highlighting the need for equal pay in a sector that relies heavily on the contributions of women.
A senior manager in Newham social services anonymously told The Eye Of Media.Com : adult social services strike could have immediate and profound implications for the sector itself. The delivery of essential care and support to vulnerable individuals could be severely disrupted whilst workers are on strike.
”Service users would experience a significant decline in the quality and continuity of care, leading to increased distress and potential harm. The strike would also place additional strain on the remaining workforce, further exacerbating existing staff shortages and increasing workloads.
This would undermine the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the adult social services sector.
.Strikers want to see policy and legislative changes. The strike could prompt policymakers and lawmakers to review existing legislation and regulations related to equal pay, with a specific focus on the adult social services sector
UNISON has claimed that it is “yet to have a positive response from the council to resolve the pay discrepancies” that are at the heart of the dispute.
A £3,000 lump sum for new children’s social workers who have already passed their assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) on successful completion of their probation.
A £3,000 annual payment for children’s social workers with two years’ service with the council.
The payments are part of the council’s children’s services improvement plan and are designed to help develop a “high-quality stable workforce with [the] capacity to ensure children and families are helped, supported, and protected”.
This objective was “yet to be fully realised”, said a report to the council’s cabinet in March, despite progress being made, including the recruitment of 18 social workers from abroad and some agency staff expressing an interest in taking on permanent roles.
Call For Equality Pay
The union have asked for the payments should be applied to adults’ practitioners, both on grounds of fairness and because the recruitment and retention pressures that were the drivers for the bonuses applied equally in adults’ services.
The council said it was taking steps to resolve the dispute, including through working with UNISON to benchmark social work and OT roles in adults’ services against those in neighbouring councils.
“We have agreed to continue to update UNISON on the progress of our adult social care workforce action plan which is in place to support all staff within the service,” said a spokesperson.
“UNISON have not accepted the insight and data the council has provided to date to support the council’s position.
“To move forwards we have set up joint benchmarking exercise with UNISON and practitioners. This new group is about to meet for a second time and we expect this work to be independently quality assured.”
However, in response, the union said: “UNISON is yet to have a positive response from the council to resolve the pay discrepancies between social workers in South Gloucestershire.
“We are, of course, committed to a resolution to this dispute and would welcome discussions. In addition, UNISON is fully engaged with the council on its joint benchmarking exercise, and we welcome the work that is being undertaken.
“However, until the dispute is resolved, or an offer is on the table UNISON will continue to take industrial action.”