Politics

Care workers ask ministers to replace warm words and applause with fair pay


Care workers on Britain’s frontline are asking ministers to ditch warm words and the cover provided by Thursday night applause, and instead give them fair pay and the PPE they need to stay safe.

Speaking on a Zoom call with Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner a group of carers from across the UK warned of a dangerous lack of PPE, low pay and a lack of respect for their often specialised and skilled work.

Fears were also raised about how workers asked to self-isolate under the Government’s contact tracing regime would be paid.

Ministers have said that care workers should not be out of pocket, but the byzantine care system often means promises from Whitehall get lost in layers of bureaucracy and outsourcing

Labour’s deputy leader warned that for too many the choice was between “choosing between keeping people safe and putting food on the table for their family”.

Angela Rayner used to be a care worker

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Ms Rayner told the Mirror: “It is simply wrong that half of all care workers are not even paid the Real Living Wage. 

“The government has not been clear about the support that will be in place for social care workers who need to isolate as part of the test and trace system.”

She added: “Care workers want to do the right thing, and it is absolutely essential that care workers don’t put at risk vulnerable people who are living in our care homes or shielding at home. 

“The Government needs to assure care workers that they won’t be going unpaid if they have to isolate and take time off work to keep us all safe.

“One worker warned that their low pay left them feeling undervalued and left them struggling to make ends meet.

One care worker said: “We’re exposed to the coronavirus more than any other people in the health and care system, and most of us are being paid the minimum wage.

“I work long hours without a break and at the end of the day I’ve got three children.

“We’re not paid enough and it doesn’t reflect the work we do.”

Others said once travel time between homes is factored in they were working for even less than the minimum wage.

Another key fear was the risk of spreading the virus to loved ones or patients because they didn’t have the safety equipment they needed.

The plan advised that care home workers moved in to the homes (stock photo)
Care workers have been on the frontline during coronavirus (stock photo)

One woman spoke of going in and out of clients homes with one flimsy mask to cover her entire shift.

She said: “We have to wear the same mask all day to everybody’s calls. “And that is just a disposable mask that I could wear as I walk out of the homes of up to 2o clients.

“We’re told not to change it unless they have Covid symptoms.”

One worker said that without changes into how they were treated or their pay that the weekly clap, which appears to have united the nation, feels hollow.

“What we do is skilled work and we have the right to be highly regarded in what we do.

“We should applaud people who do the right thing and make practical steps like Taylor Wimpey,  they’ve decided to give any care worker or NHS staff that needs to buy a new home 5%.

“I expect the government to do something pragmatic to show that they are really appreciative of what care workers are doing”.





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