UNISON North West has recently launched a campaign in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region called Care Workers for Change. The campaign aims to achieve much-needed improvements in care standards and employment practices in the residential and domiciliary care sectors.

Public pressure for more investment in social care is growing. In November 2016, UNISON has called on the government to invest the £2.4 billion it holds in unallocated business rates in social care. If this money was distributed using the Better Care Fund formula, Bolton Council would receive an additional £13.6 million – far exceeding the £1.9 million that can be raised through a 2% council tax precept.

The voice of care staff is largely missing from the current public debate around social care funding. To deliver significant change, care staff must be front and centre of that debate. My union aims is to provide care staff with the voice, support and confidence that can only be achieved through collective workplace organisation.

The campaign has called upon Bolton Labour Group to propose and support a motion at full Council which would set out the Council’s commitment for improvements in care quality and employment and its expectations of care organisations that it commissions.

This week is ? trade union and for UNISONs part during my lunch break I was out with a group of members asking the public to sign the ‘Dignity in Social Care’ post card petition. I was overwhelmed with the response we got in such a short time, it’s clear the public are interested, are concerned, and they want action.

Want to know more? Want to sign our petition at http://www.unisonnw.org/dignity or follow the Care Workers For Change face book page

Andrea Egan

Unison Bolton Branch