Industrial action looms as home care workers in West Dunbartonshire prepare to vote on strike action over the controversial rota restructure.
The trade union GMB Scotland has launched a ballot on industrial action after the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) rejected calls to halt the rollout of new rotas dubbed ‘unworkable’ by staff.
The dispute over unfair hours between GMB and the HSCP has persisted for several months.
AnnMarie Carrigan, GMB organiser, said: “Home care is built on the shoulders of our members.
“Their skills and commitment should demand only respect but instead have been thrown in their face.
“They have been led up the garden path by executives who clearly had no intention of easing the damage being inflicted by changes that have caused so much misery and damage.”
She stated that managers within HSCP have had every chance to put a stop to the disruptive decision that now looms over the care system that provides a lifeline for some of West Dunbartonshire’s most vulnerable residents.
“Our members deserve far more than empty words and meaningless meetings.
“Managers will talk all day but do absolutely nothing to ease the disruption, uncertainty and pain inflicted by these changes and cannot be surprised that our members have said enough,” she added.
The union has campaigned for months on behalf of care workers impacted by the new shift patterns imposed by the sector’s restructure.
The redesign, which was intended to improve care across the region, has instead been said to have sabotaged standards, caused stress and uncertainty for those in the service’s care, as well as impacted the workers’ jobs and family life.
On Tuesday, June 16, GMB Scotland opened a two-week consultative ballot on industrial action, which will conclude on July 1. If support for industrial action is shown then a formal ballot will be held.
The statistics collected by the union lay it out plainly, as nearly nine out of ten (85%) say their mental health has suffered because of the anxiety and stress caused by new working patterns. This comes while 72% said the changes have cost them money because they have been forced to reduce their hours.
Eight out of ten (80%) believe the redesign has impacted their lives away from work, while 58% believe the changes have damaged their pensions and sabotaged retirement plans.
A carer surveyed by GMB said: “I loved my job and the people I visited, but I just couldn’t cope with the new demands.
“I ended up in tears every night and just couldn’t keep doing it.
“It was too much.
“Everybody I know in the service is either dropping their hours or thinking about it.
“It is so unnecessary and unfair.”
In response to this, a West Dunbartonshire HSCP spokesperson said: "We value the important work our carers do and are disappointed by the decision to move to consultative ballot following extensive engagement with them and trade unions on this matter.
"The aim of our redesign is to deliver a service which is safe and sustainable for those who receive care as well as our workforce.
"Pausing it at this stage is not in the best interests of the service or the individuals we support.
"We continue to endeavour to engage constructively with all parties."
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