Pay all care workers living wage, says UNISON

UNISON is calling on all employers to pay the living wage to care workers and all councils to adopt UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter in its Social care manifesto for Scotland to improve working conditions for some of the worst paid public workers in Scotland.

UNISON manifesto Social Care in Scotland is launched today (Monday 2 May) (See on website)

Improving the quality of care means seriously addressing workforce issues, the most important of which is pay. Despite the introduction of the Chancellor’s new UK ‘Living’ Wage which sets an hourly rate of £7.20 for workers aged 25 and over, many employers do not pay for time to travel between visits or make other cuts to terms and conditions. UNISON believes that all providers should be required to pay the Scottish Living Wage (currently £8.25 in Scotland) through the procurement process.

Glasgow City Council under fire over further cuts to care services

Tue 9 September 2014

Trade unionists, community groups and members of the public will gather in George Square later this week to lobby Glasgow City Council over proposed changes to its home care service.

The council announced plans to outsource all responsibility for assessing people who need home care services, including organising services, from their social work department to council-owned Cordia. Currently, Cordia employs most home carers in the city but the assessment of need, spending of budgets and oversight of the service is carried out by local social work staff.

The council has cited “budget pressures” – meaning future cuts – as a central reason.

The Defend Glasgow Services (DGS) campaign – a group set up by trade unions, community organisations and community campaigners – is holding a lobby on Thursday, September 11, to call on the council to reverse its decision.

Brian Smith, branch secretary of UNISON’s Glasgow City branch, said:
“This is the first time in Glasgow under a ‘purchaser/provider split’ that the provider will take on all responsibility for the assessment of a person’s need. This includes the level of service provided, people’s care reviews, responding to complaints and all spending.

“Home care services are already being reduced through shortened visits and this is just a further attack on services for the most vulnerable people in the city. It also threatens Cordia workers’ jobs, wages and conditions.

“We want Glasgow City Council to put people first by calling a halt to these changes and focus instead on investing in home care services and those who provide them.”

Under Glasgow City Council’s plans, Cordia will be given the existing home care annual budget of £50 million and be expected to deliver 10 per cent efficiencies by 2016, and further “appropriate targets” thereafter.

ENDS

UNISON calls on Glasgow’s councillors to end attack on workers’ rights

Wed 4 June 2014

UNISON, the union representing care workers, has lambasted Glasgow City Council for taking action against more than 60 hard-working carers for participating in official, lawful industrial action earlier this year.

The union is calling on the city’s councillors to step in and put an end to this attack on workers’ rights.

Glasgow’s care workers took part in industrial action as a last resort to defend a series of attacks on the services they deliver to the most vulnerable people in the city. In the last year, Glasgow City Council has closed three of its seven day centres; reduced the number of service users from more than 500 to around 150; cut the workforce by more than 40 per cent (from 248 to 147) and sought to impose new duties on the lowest-graded staff.

Glasgow's residential care workers embark on further strike action

Monday 27 January 2014

Care workers in Glasgow City Council’s residential homes are embarking on two further days of strike action from today (Monday).

This is the second strike action taken by the city’s care workers in response to the council’s decision to enforce new job roles, longer shift patterns and pay cuts of up to seven per cent.

UNISON Scotland, the union representing care workers, said its members had no option but to take further action.

Brian Smith, UNISON City of Glasgow Branch Secretary, said:

“UNISON members have been forced to take further strike action as the Social Work Management has made no attempt to resolve the dispute.

“The fact is that care homes would not function without the hard work and dedication of our members and to force them into this difficult position is completely unfair and unnecessary.

“Our members are only asking for what is fair: no cuts in pay, properly identified roles and responsibilities of staff and agreement on any new shift arrangements.”

ENDS

Notes to editors 

• Further information on the strike action can be found in our press release of 13 January 'Residential home care workers strike to protect services' here http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2014/janfeb/0113.htm
   
• Glasgow City Council plans to cut wages of residential home care workers by up to 7 per cent through the introduction of longer shift patterns. The move would affect 182 workers, out of a workforce of just over 500, with 122 full time workers on salaries of £20,000-£28,000 facing a loss of £1495 per year, while 60 part timers face a loss of £794 per year. The Council is also refusing to maintain the wages of any worker who has been in a temporary higher graded post for less than four years. UNISON views this four year criteria as unacceptably long.
   
• Glasgow City Council wants to alter the job roles of the lowest paid workers to include the administration of medicines. This is not in their pay grade. UNISON is calling for properly identified roles and responsibilities of staff, recognition of the risks associated with any new roles staff are being asked to undertake, fair recompense for the new tasks they are being asked to do, all underpinned by proper training and support.
   
• The strike will take place over two days on Monday, 27 and Tuesday 28 of January 2014.

Residential home care workers in Glasgow strike to protect services

Mon 13 Jan 2014

Care workers in Glasgow City Council’s residential homes will go on strike for two days from tomorrow (Tuesday) to resist new job roles, longer shift patterns and pay cuts of up to 7 per cent.

Brian Smith, UNISON City of Glasgow Branch Secretary, said:
“We have not taken action lightly but have no alternative. Again, we ask Glasgow City Council to work with us to reach an agreement.

“These changes will affect the vulnerable people our members care for. The lowest paid staff are being asked to take on new tasks like dispensing medicines – and at the same time they are being forced to work longer shifts and to accept massive pay cuts.”

Hundreds of Glasgow charity care workers face uncertain future

Wed 30 October 2013

Hundreds of Glasgow’s charity care workers face having their terms and conditions savaged as a result of spending cuts by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.

Bosses at The Mungo Foundation have threatened staff with massive cuts to their holidays and sick pay, claiming they have been backed into a corner by funding cuts.

Staff were told today (Wednesday) they will lose eight days holiday a year, while sick pay will be cut by almost half. Staff will also see their pension contributions escalate. UNISON has condemned the move and says it is the first in a line of attacks to Glasgow’s voluntary organisations as a result of spending cuts.

Alice Lyness, a care worker and UNISON steward at The Mungo Foundation, said: “My colleagues and I work with some of the city’s most vulnerable people and we’re committed to providing the first-class service they deserve.

“These cuts are not only having a detrimental impact on jobs and the living standards of voluntary sector staff, but on the people we care for each and every day. This race to the bottom is the wrong approach when we are delivering services to the most vulnerable in our community.”

Deborah Dyer, UNISON’s Regional Organiser, said: “Many of these workers are low-paid and already struggling to make ends meet and are now are faced with paying the price of these damaging cuts.

“We need voluntary organisations to act in a responsible manner, but this must start at the top and it’s time for the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to put an end to these cuts and to properly fund the care of the city’s most vulnerable people.”

ends

For more information contact: Deborah Dyer, UNISON’s regional organiser, on 07538 101 225
 
Notes to editors
1.    For more information on the impact of local government cuts please see UNISON’s Public Works blog at: http://publicworksscotland.blogspot.co.uk/

2.    You can find out more on UNISON Scotland’s website at: www.unison-scotland.org.uk

Health and care integration delivered by people not robots

UNISON, Scotland's largest public sector union will today argue that if health and care integration is to succeed, it needs to focus more on the people who deliver care than simply structures.

Scottish Government plans for health and care integration are set out in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Bill that is shortly to be considered by the Scottish Parliament. UNISON Scotland has argued that the Bill gives ministers massive powers to intervene in local democracy, but gives little consideration to staffing issues.

Speaking at the Holyrood health and care integration conference, UNISON Scottish Organiser, Dave Watson will say: "Health and care is delivered by people, not robots. The Bill and the prior consultation process only gives the staffing aspects of care integration a passing mention. Given the history of health and care integration, with its many initiatives, staff are entitled to be cynical about another shift of the managerial deckchairs without being sidelined.”

Dave Watson will argue that national and local workforce strategies are required, he will say: “International studies show that tackling people issues are the key to delivering integration. Addressing organisational culture, relationships, respecting professional identity, training and staff engagement have been shown time and time again to be what works. In Scotland, we persist in trying to reinvent the wheel while we muddle through these issues.”

UNISON has set out the key elements of a workforce strategy in its submissions on the Bill. They include practical issues such as staff transfer, pensions, workforce procedures, procurement, equality and a broader staff governance framework.

For further information please contact:
Dave Watson: d.watson@unison.co.uk Tel. 07958 122409

Notes for editors UNISON Scotland evidence to the Health Committee sets out these issues in more detail. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/PublicBodiesJointWorkingBill_evidencetoHealth+SportCttee_Aug2013.pdf Our concise briefing on the Bill at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/b037_BargainingBrief_IntegrationOfHealth+SocialCare_Jun2013.pdf
International evidence to support our argument in SPICE briefing http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/53102.aspx

Lobby stops closure of highly regarded Dunoon care home

25 April 2013

UNISON members joined community activists today in a successful lobby to stop the closure of a highly regarded care home.

Argyll and Bute UNISON members and a large number of community activists demonstrated outside council head offices in Lochgilphead.

Struan Lodge in Dunoon is a much loved care home for the elderly run by the council. If it closes, residents will be moved to private care homes.

Marion Power local UNISON Branch Secretary said “The fact that so many people travelled from Dunoon to Lochgilphead to protest outside a council meeting on a weekday morning shows how strongly people feel about the proposed closure.

“UNISON represents staff in Struan Lodge and we were delighted to unite with the community to call on councillors to think again. We are very pleased the decision today was not to proceed with the closure and the removal of current residents.

“It is so wrong that the most vulnerable in our society like the residents of Struan Lodge are being asked to pay the ultimate price of being turfed out of their home due to the austerity brought about by bailing out the banks.”

The top picture shows resident Kenny McLeod, with his 'Don't Evict Me' placard, with all the demonstrators.

 

Today's council decision was reported in the Dunoon Observer

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Union welcomes South Lanarkshire Living Wage uprating - but 'council funded scandal' on contractors' pay

11 Feb 2013

UNISON has welcomed the announcement that South Lanarkshire Council will uprate the Living Wage for their employees to £7.56 and that they will also ensure that all workers paid below £21,000 (for a 37 hour week) will receive an above the national pay award pay rise in April.

South Lanarkshire Branch Secretary, Stephen Smellie, said, “The Council, and Council Leader Eddie McAvoy, are to be congratulated on this decision to recognise the need to protect and improve the pay of their low paid staff. These workers, who are mostly women, include cleaners, school catering staff, home carers, school crossing patrollers, care assistants and clerical staff, all of whom deliver crucial services to local communities and who have been hit hard by low wages and high prices.”

This is the third year running that the Council have made efforts to protect the lowest paid. In 2011 they introduced the Living Wage and gave a pay rise of £250 to the low paid when there was a national pay freeze. In 2012 the Living Wage increased to £7.20 and again the low paid received £250 whilst the pay freeze continued. Now in 2013 the Living wage is increasing to £7.56 they are consolidating the £250 into salaries and intending to pay the national pay award of 1%.

Stephen Smellie said, “A few years ago we decided to campaign locally for the Living Wage and to highlight how the lowest paid were suffering most due to years of below inflation pay awards and the pending pay freeze. We lobbied all Councillors and argued our case. In 2011 we negotiated the introduction of the Living Wage and the £250 for the low paid. Having won that case we have continued to work with the Council to maintain and develop this policy.

The benefit to the low paid workers is obvious but it also has a benefit to the wider community. It is well known that better paid staff leads to better and more reliable services. It also provides a boost to the local economy as the additional money is mostly spent locally. The final benefit is that some of these workers now come off benefits saving the tax payer money.”

There are thousands of workers in Lanarkshire who do not benefit from the Living Wage in the private and voluntary sector where the National Minimum Wage of £6.19 for over 21 year olds is the going rate. This includes companies who are contracted by the Council to deliver services on their behalf. UNISON recently highlighted this in a letter to South Lanarkshire Council’s Leader and Chief Executive.

Stephen Smellie said, “The Council recently invited tenders to deliver home care services. The companies who currently do this pay their staff just above the poverty rate of the National Minimum Wage and most of them do so whilst offering only zero-hour contracts. So these staff not only get very poor wages when they work but they have no guaranteed number of hours that they will be asked to work.

“This is a Council funded scandal. We wrote to the Council asking that they ensure that companies who they will contract to deliver services are required to pay at least the Living Wage. Unfortunately they replied that they are unable to do so as, according to advice from the Scottish Government that to do this would be in breach of European law.”

UNISON believes that Councils are able to ensure their contractors pay the higher rates of pay and have sought their own legal advice.

Stephen Smellie continued, “We are working with a number of trade union and community groups locally to organise a campaign to take up this issue of extending the Living Wage beyond the Councils and NHS. We would appeal to workers in the private home care companies to contact us to discuss how we can build a moral campaign in Lanarkshire for economic justice.”


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Carers, celebrities & campaigners rally for learning disability services and day care centres

22 January 2013

Carers and service users will unite with trade unionists, campaigners and celebrities including author(s) Alasdair Gray (and James Kelman) at a rally in George Square tomorrow – Wednesday 23 January from 12.30pm - to call for an immediate halt to cuts and an independent review into Glasgow’s learning disability services.

Sam Macartney, of Glasgow UNISON branch, welcomed the postponement of the council’s decision on cuts to learning disability services, closure of three vital day care centres and job losses.

Sam Macartney, Convener of Daycare Services, said:

“Glasgow City Council has put off the vote planned for Thursday (24 January) on the proposed cuts in learning disability day centres and services. This is of course entirely down to the pressure exerted on the council by those who use the services and their families, their supporters in the various campaigning groups including the Defend Glasgow Services Campaign and the trade unions.

“However, there are still no changes to the proposals and we must keep up the pressure on the council.

“We are calling for:

An independent review to be carried out into learning disability services and day care centres in Glasgow – as called for by Glasgow City Council’s own Carers Champion, Chris Mason

A halt to all changes and cuts – including cuts to services, jobs or closures of centres – while the review is carried out

Glasgow City Council Social Work Services to hold an open all-Glasgow meeting for all carers

And vitally - an increase – not a cut - in the money available to the total learning disability services pot, to make individual personalised budgets higher, because the cuts to personalised budgets are at the root of most of the problem.

“The protest planned for Wednesday 23 January at 12.30pm outside the City Chambers goes ahead. Let’s step up our efforts to defeat these proposals to cut vital services to the most vulnerable in our community.”

Rally details

Wednesday 23 January 2013

12.30pm in George Square, Glasgow

Speakers include those who use the services and their families, elected representatives including councillors and MSPs, prominent authors and academics, trade unionists and disability rights campaigners.

Confirmed speakers:

• Tommy Gorman, carer
• Grace Harrigan, carer
• Ian Hood, Learning Disability Alliance Scotland
• Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary, STUC 
• Alasdair Gray, author and artist – who also brings a message of support from writer James Kelman

Other speakers to be confirmed

  

Note for editors

Glasgow City Council’s controversial plans for personalisation of care services includes a proposal to close three day centres that accommodate about 130 people each on weekdays. Around 136 jobs are also under threat.

Direct and highly emotional personal evidence of why this is not a good plan was provided at a well-attended conference at UNISON’s Glasgow City branch office on 10 December 2012 called by the Defend Glasgow Services Personalisation Network – a network of carers, service users, campaigners and trade unions planning to defend these key services.

See our blog post on the 12 December event here:

http://unison-scotland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/glasgow-personalisation-network.html

and a useful STV news report here:

http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/205250-protest-over-councils-daycare-for-learning-disabled-reform-plans/

Evening Times: MSPs hit out over plan to close Glasgow day care centres

18 Jan 2013

Evening Times Political Correspondent Stewart Paterson reported today:

 

THE closure of day centres for adults with disabilities in Glasgow was debated by MSPs at Holyrood.

 

Bob Doris, SNP MSP for Glasgow, led the debate over Glasgow City Council's proposals which could see three centres closed.

He said the closures were a cut to services and was concerned the consultation process has not sufficiently considered the views of users and their families.

 

Several city MSPs debated the issue with Labour MSPs stating that it was not a cut as any savings were to be spent on new social care services. They said if the council was given a fairer settlement from the Scottish Government it would have more cash to spend.

 

See the full report on the Evening Times website.

The transcript of the debate is on the Scottish Parliament website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=7685&mode=pdf 

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Barnardo's staff shocked by pension scheme closure - UNISON

Wed 16 Jan 2013
Staff at Barnardo’s are shocked and angry at reports that the charity is to close its career average staff pension and replace it with a vastly inferior scheme.  UNISON, the union representing workers at the charity, called the decision  “premature and a bitter disappointment to staff who are only now being consulted after the event”
Simon Watson, UNISON National Officer for the Third Sector, went on to say:

“Staff working for Barnardo’s are fully committed to helping children throughout the UK and do a fantastic job.  They do not get big pay packets or bonuses, so their pension and saving for security in their retirement, means a lot to them and taking that away is a real betrayal.

“Barnardo’s should have consulted fully with UNISON and at least provided more detailed financial information.  The financial information that UNISON has obtained simply does not point to an urgent financial need for this drastic decision.   Management need to think again about their mission which must include caring for its staff in their retirement.”

Barnardo’s are obliged to undertake a formal consultation by the pension regulator. UNISON will use this period to seek alternatives to closing the scheme.


Ends


UNISON UK News Release:
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2934

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Evening Times - Glasgow: Carers' champion warns over bid to close centres

CLOSING three learning disability day centres in Glasgow could lead to a surge in the number of people being taken into emergency care, says the city's new council carers' champion.
Christopher Mason, who was appointed to the post after last year's elections, has investigated plans to shut Summerston, Berryknowes (Cardonald) and Hinshaw Street (Maryhill) resource centres. His warning comes in a new report.
If the plan gets the go-ahead, the remaining four council centres would be used by people with severe learning disabilities and places would be found in the community for the remainder.

Evening Times 8 January 2013

Vivienne Nicoll

Local government correspondent

 

see the rest of the story here:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/carers-champion-warns-over-bid-to-close-centres-111819n.19852603

Herald letters: Glasgow City UNISON on Self Directed Support, personalisation and adult social care

The Herald Letters Thu 20 Dec 2012

http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/letters/we-need-more-people-with-resilience-and-courage-to-oppose-any-attack-on-services-for-the-learning-disabled.19721

ONE of the biggest factors contributing to the reduction in support to disabled people in Glasgow is the individual needs assessment and resource allocation system which is used to calculate a person's individual care budget. Members of our trade union whose job it is to undertake these assessments have repeatedly told Unison that the system is primarily geared to ensure a budget which provides only a basic level of support. Self-Directed Support (SDS) and personalisation should of course be about much more and include notions of full social participation, active citizenship and maximising employment and education opportunities.

The fact that Glasgow City Council's current position is to cut 11% from the city's £90m adult social care budget through personalisation, including a 53% cut in the learning disability day service workforce, is perhaps the reason why so many people don't believe council officials when they talk about promoting independence and choice through the current proposals. Genuine SDS and personalisation costs money and should not be seen as a cheap alternative.

Those who oppose the cuts to the council's learning disability services should strongly argue that the individual needs assessment and resource allocation system is radically improved to reflect a genuine personalised approach. Our politicians should also be campaigning for more money overall for the city's vital services rather than just passing on the Coalition Government's cuts.

Secondly, the characterisation by some senior council officials of the current services as "exclusive and institutionalised" is a misrepresentation of what actually happens on the ground. Many individuals are currently supported by the council's day service workforce to access community-based leisure, social and educational opportunities.

Could this be better funded and managed? Of course. However the setting-up of "straw men" who can then be publicly knocked down is not a helpful contribution to the debate on how best to organise social work services in Glasgow.

Brian Smith, Branch secretary, Unison Glasgow City, 84 Bell Street, Glasgow.

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STV: Protest over council's daycare for learning disabled reform plans

10 Dec 2012

From STV news:

Carers and trade unionists have joined forces to challenge Glasgow City Council's planned reform of day services for people with learning disabilities.

Councillors, who are to decide on the proposed closure of three day centres in January, attended an an emotional meeting with the parents of service users on Monday.

The carers spoke of their exhaustion and fears of how they will cope if the facilities are removed for more than 60% of those catered for.

Full story and video:
http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/205250-protest-over-councils-daycare-for-learning-disabled-reform-plans/


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Quarriers staff set strike date - but renew call to go to Acas

Tue 30 Aug 2011


UNISON members in Quarriers have set a date for strike action to oppose the imposition of pay cuts of up to 20%. But even as they announced the 24 hour action beginning on Tuesday 6 September, union reps renewed their call on Quarriers management to take the dispute to Acas.

Workers at Quarriers are opposing a package of cuts that will see some staff taking huge reductions in wages as well as higher pension contributions, reduced sick pay and other reductions in terms and conditions. Last week they voted by a margin of 3 to 1 in favour of strike action. At that point UNISON renewed their offer to Quarriers management to take the cuts package to Acas, an offer that was repeated today.

UNISON members in Quarriers will strike FROM TUESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2011 AT 8.00 AM UNTIL WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2011 AT 7.59 AM. This will involve a disruption to services but UNISON will ensure that life and limb cover is provided.

UNSION Regional Organiser Simon Macfarlane said:

“No one wants to be taking strike action but Quarriers have left us with no option.  The proposed cuts to pay and conditions will be absolutely devastating on staff, and in the longer term will impact on the service Quarriers provide to vulnerable adults and children. If you are sick with worry and losing your home it is hard to totally focus on the care you are giving. Once again we ask that Quarriers management agree to take this dispute to Acas.”
 
ENDS

Notes to editors:
1.    The result of the postal ballot on strike action was 69% in favour of strike action with 24% against.

2.    Details of the proposed cuts including impact statements by UNISON members can be found on the UNISON Quarriers branch website here http://www.quarriersunison.org.uk/15941_69001.4039.html

For further information please contact:
Stephen Brown (Branch Secretary) 07584 503858
Simon Macfarlane (Regional Organiser) 07703 194132 or
Stephen Low, (Policy Officer), 07956 852822


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Quarriers staff vote yes to strike action to oppose 20% pay cuts

Friday 26 August 2011

The men and women who care for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable adults and  distressed children have voted massively for strike action. UNISON members at Quarriers are determined to resist brutal pay cuts on staff which will see over 560 staff take a pay cut of 10% while others will lose as much as 23%.

The postal ballot for strike action returned a 76% yes vote for strike action and aan even higher 85% result for action short of a strike. When the ballot result was announced UNISON repeated their ofer to  take the ongoing dispute to Acas for arbitration, but Quarriers management have spurned the offer.

In addition to pay cuts, which will see some members lose £400 a month. There are also proposed cuts to sick pay, increased pension contributions and other protections removed.

Stephen Brown, UNISON Quarriers branch Secretary said today:

“The attacks Quarriers are making on our members are unprecedented. No one can cope with a 23% pay cut and for Quarriers to suggest that they will set up a Hardship Fund for their own staff funded out of their own pay cuts shows how much the organisation has lost touch with its values.

William Quarrier set up Quarriers in the 1870s to help underprivileged children not to use wage cuts to drive staff into poverty”.

Speaking today Simon Macfarlane UNISON Regional Organiser said:

“Our members want to be doing their jobs caring for people  - not arguing with Quarriers management. But the proposed pay cuts will force people out of the job and impact on the work that they do with the people they care for.

“A 3 to 1 vote for strike action must surely send a message to Quarriers that their proposals are unacceptable. We call on Quarriers to get back round the table and to remove their threat to dismiss and re-engage all their staff – let’s take this to ACAS and see if it can be resolved

In recent weeks Quarriers have seemed to be more intent on attacking UNISON instead of negotiating. We call on these attacks and for Quarriers to get down to the real work of trying to find a way forward.

ENDS


Note to editors

1. The ballot result was for Strike Action:  voting “Yes” 219(69%) Votes “No” 69(24%) 3 spoilt papers. Turnout 44%. For industrial action short of a strike votes were voting “Yes”: 245(84.8%)  Total number voting “No”:44 (15.2%)              

For further information please contact: 
Stephen Brown (Branch Secretary) 07584 503858
Simon MacFarlane,( Regional Organiser) 07700 3194132

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Care privatisation - time for change

The revelations in last night's Panorama of abuse at a private residential unit has shocked the nation and rightly led to police arrests. Whilst this was a particularly shocking episode, concerns over care provision have rarely been out of the news in recent months. Examples include:

• The collapse of Southern Cross care homes is a potential tragedy for residents and staff and has highlighted the economics of the private care home industry. The Financial Times has provided a clear analysis and described this as "The shameful state of the UK care homes"; commenting that "Private care providers seeking to maximise profits are tempted to cut back on the spending needed to provide the best possible care for those vulnerable people in their charge."
• The Elsie Inglis care home in Edinburgh closed after the death of a resident. The home was being investigated by Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) who said they had “serious concerns” about standards of care.
• Today's Guardian publishes an open letter from mental health groups over the impact of welfare benefit cuts. "The government's changes to the welfare system are having a "devastating" impact on hundreds of thousands of people with mental health problems and have driven some of the most vulnerable to try to take their own lives, according to charities and medical experts."
• Last night's Newsnight Scotland highlighted massive increases in care charges. Disabled persons groups said that these charges were being used to finance the Council Tax freeze.
• Councils across Scotland are privatising homecare in response to budget cuts. The scandal of the "15 minute care visit" was highlighted in an earlier Panorama programme.
• The personalisation agenda, whilst an appropriate solution for some groups, is being adopted as the new 'one size fits all' approach to care. It is being used in several areas as cover for budget cuts. It is also being used to drive further privatisation. 

These stories highlight a crisis in the care industry and we are drifting into a privatised service without any real public debate. With a growing elderly population these pressures will not go away. It is surely time to call a halt to privatisation and undertake a detailed review of the future of care.

NHS and social action both needed to improve nation's health

The STUC today called for increased collaboration and joint initiatives between NHS, local authorities and other public bodies to improve public health in Scotland; and campaign for more support to health professions in community settings to promote public health and to target health inequalities as part of high quality care pathways for patients.

Health and Social Care: 'Injury to one is an injury to all'

An Injury To One - Is An Injury To All is a timeless principle of the trade union movement. It's the principle that lies behind our Health and Social Care Services. It's the principle that underlines our determination to defend those services, those that rely on them, and those that provide them", UNISON Scottish Convener Lilan Macer told the STUC today.