Care workers supporting vulnerable people in Powys have been stripped of their paid break times and must now work longer hours.
Private care firm, Shaw Healthcare told employees they must agree the changes, or they would be sacked and re-engaged on weaker contracts, in a practice commonly known as a threat to ‘fire and rehire’.
Shaw executives have refused to negotiate with representatives from UNISON Cymru Wales and yesterday (Tuesday 11 April), the union wrote an open letter to Powys County Council warning the authority its care contractor’s bullying behaviour is completely unacceptable and the firm must be reprimanded.
UNISON says Shaw’s care staff will no longer have a paid 30-minute break and their shifts have been extended by half an hour. Shaw has also banned staff from eating prepared food with residents at meal times, which was a contractual right. Now staff will be allowed to eat ‘leftovers’ if they pay.
The care firm alleges the employment conditions of staff must be slashed if it is to win a renewed contract with the local authority, something UNISON says is not an unusual practice at private and not-for-profit care firms. The trade union campaigns for care services to be provided directly by the council which is democratically accountable.
A care worker speaking to UNISON on condition of anonymity said,
“I can’t begin to tell you the negative emotions I am feeling right now almost to the point where I feel like I can’t go on. The feelings of being bullied, threatened and degraded are paramount at the moment.”
A second care worker, again speaking on condition of anonymity, said,
“In all honesty, we have been held over a barrel. They are targeting the lowest paid and now we’re getting a pay cut – we are paid for 7 hours, but they are asking us to work 7 and a half hours. When the company told me I felt sick.
“We know what we mean to the residents and we always put them first. We gave up seeing our own families to look after them during covid so when, as a parting shot, the company asked us to think of the service, I just didn’t feel like a valued member of staff.”
John Byrne, UNISON Powys County branch secretary, said,
“Shaw healthcare is exploiting hard working staff, who are already low paid. Care workers give everything to support people in our community, but their employer has been bullying them to give up their rights.
“These are local jobs and it is right for the council to investigate and ensure all care workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Ultimately, directly provided council care services are the best guarantee of standards for staff and services users.”
UNISON has also written to the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Julie Morgan, to complain about Shaw Healthcare. It says the care commissioning process has failed and the need to generate a profit is the barrier to improved care services in Wales.
Notes for editors
UNISON’s open letter to Powys County Council leader, James Gibson-Watt, can be found here.
Contact
Alastair Gittins, UNISON Cymru Wales, 07816 53 83 97