The Isle of Wight Council has issued reassurances that potential strike action amongst its social care staff won’t impact the service provided to Islanders.
Members of Unison are on the verge of walking out in a row over compulsory out-of-hours working, as previously reported by Island Echo. Employees on standby are required to respond to emergencies over the telephone or in person outside working hours. Although this has always had an impact on their work-life balance – plus their family, care, and social commitments – Unison says that staff found a consensus between them to ensure there was 24-hour cover. However, moves to impose a new compulsory scheme on the 90 affected staff have caused anger. Social workers have already agreed overwhelmingly to take industrial action, and an initial withdrawal of goodwill on standby shifts could develop into a strike, according to the union. Discussions have been ongoing since August, but the local authority has been unable to resolve the issues raised by staff. It’s been confirmed that providing emergency and crisis support is within the contract of employment for all social workers and social work assistants employed by the Isle of Wight Council.
“Social work is not, nor has it ever been, a Monday to Friday 9 – 5 role. People cannot plan for social care emergencies and crisis and the majority of crisis situations develop outside of core business hours.” “The standby arrangements are essential to ensure that we safeguard and support Island residents. The essential nature of this part of our service is recognised by some of our staff and they have stepped forward to continue to support the provision of the standby service in spite of the industrial action. I am humbled by their dedication to their roles and by their compassion for local residents. “They are going above and beyond to ensure that vulnerable members of our community are able to access the support that they may need in a crisis and to them I am incredibly grateful.” “It is really important to me that at this stage we continue to try to all work together to find a resolution and I remain committed to the ongoing engagement with UNISON and staff directly.”
“The essential nature of this part of our service is recognised by some of our staff and they have stepped forward to continue to support the provision of the standby service in spite of the industrial action. I am humbled by their dedication to their roles”, ,Laura Gaudion, in you’re position you should be sacked for such comment -suggesting that 87 other members of staff don’t care about the vulnerable people they care for. Why don’t you do the out of hours stuff for free? You earn 3/4/5 x what actual workers earn – oh forgot you’re not compassionate about helping anyone ,just bullying work force.
rightly said,sacked asap
Surely, a mandatory rather than voluntary system would ensure fairness; otherwise, the system is prone to abuse and bullying, resulting in some staff members being forced into doing more than their fair share. Evidently, these staff only want to do emergency cover when it suits them, which means that other people have to take up the slack.
I must single out a council care worker called Connie who has worked her butt off these past 6 / 7 weeks to keep my wife and I intact. Phone calls, weekends and evenings making certain that we are both cared for whilst I have been in and out of hospital. Can I give a shout out to the caring staff and Doctors of St Mary’s who have kept me alive.
There is zero chance of the council being able to cover the work that 90 people were doing – zero chance.
if the council had employed enough social workers, then they would have 24 hour cover with fully paid staff – the fact that 90 are going on strike – means 90 not working and they already rely on goodwill to cover emergencies – laura is full of it – she won’t be covering anything.
Laura needs to get down off her high horse, get her hands dirty on front line social work – or quit her job, as she clearly isn’t creating a win/win situation for the council and the staff.
I strongly believe in the right to strike, however based on what I know about the excellent social workers & managers on the Island, any decision to strike will not be made lightly.
What a nasty statement. It reads as only some staff go above and beyond, and only some staff care enough by agreeing to work. It divides staff against staff. NO. All staff went above and beyond until decisions were taken to add that straw which broke backs. There are more and more users in the system now due to faster turnarounds in hospital because of lack of bedspace, lack of doctors and nurses. Spreading staff so thinly they crack is not a solution to a long term problem, and neither is a few more quid into the budget. From the very top down the approach to today’s society needs a complete reset. It’s not fit for purpose.
don’t normally agree with you on much karen, but here I do.
shows how out of touch Ms Gaudion is with people’s families. Unfortunately one of tge laziest and most ineffective all tge staff
I understand that very soon, a Government proposal will be forthcoming to lessen the need for many care workers, as the Gov are going to pay family members U/C to take care of their family members. I know this already exists but the criteria and amount paid is going up massively. So ‘suddenly’ family will be ‘interested’ in caring for their elderly once more, but many for the wrong reasons, and of course many will be scamming it, adding to the cost to the nation, but that is what’s going to occur soon.
Where did you hear that? More importantly why would anyone in Commons or HoL vote it through this close to an election they’re likely to lose? A proposal means 3 readings, many votes and amendments and a votes in each House to become a new law so highly unlikely.
Ok, so. Quick fact check:
Carers allowance has been raised in line with inflation by a whole £5 a week. Hooray!! Anyone on UC with carers allowance as additional element will have their UC reduced by…£5. Oh.
As that policy was in the recent tranche of Welfare Reforms within the Spring budget, and the Autumn budget is likely to be around election time (they do have until 12th December to have one though) it would be nigh on impossible to propose, read, amend and pass all within a one month window of opportunity, so stop your fretting.
If strike action won’t affect the service, they must already be overstaffed. The council telling porkies methinks.
Those working have no choice as not part of Union, if they were to join action then she can dismiss them. Moral is falling and at rate she is going staff will be leaving,rather earn less and work set hours in Aldi,can then top up with Universal Credit. How can someone be running a service with no Qualifications, knowledge or Experience?, Social Workers have to train 3yrs and register etc. Poor workers……