Stockport Labour welcome the recent Central Arbitration Committees ruling to recognise Unison for collective bargaining purposes.

The ruling means staff working on the Stockport Council-commissioned learning disabilities contract will now be able to collectively negotiate their own pay and terms and conditions with their employer through their union UNISON.

Stockport Labour supports the great work of unions and their endeavours to protect the rights of workers.

The move follows the Stockport Labour proposed Dignity in Care motion in 2017 which championed, in principle, the provisions of Unison’s ethical care charter for the commissioning of home care and residential care services.

The over-riding objective behind the Charter is to establish a minimum baseline for the safety, quality and dignity of care by ensuring employment conditions which a) do not routinely short-change clients and b) ensure the recruitment and retention of a more stable workforce through more sustainable pay, conditions and training levels.

In April support workers in Stockport began to see the benefits of this work. There are now 31 home support providers in Stockport who have agreed to pay support staff a minimum £9 per hour to reflect the Real Living Wage. The remaining 10 have indicated their intention to work towards this accreditation.

Unison and Stockport Labour believe in putting social value at the heart of commissioning in order to make a real difference to people’s lives.

 

Cllr Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health commented:

“I’m really pleased that we have worked together with Unison to deliver this fantastic outcome for the staff in the service.

The Labour group recognise the importance of collective bargaining and workers’ rights and are pleased to see that this has been restored to the PossAbilities staff.”