BOLTON TUC welcomes the victory achieved by Unison on behalf of Judith Montgomery. This is a victory for all care workers, as well as those whose care is in their hands.

Thanks to her Union taking the employer to court, Judith has now received more than £3,000 back pay for the travel time for which her employer failed to pay her, and will be paid travel time from now on.

Bolton TUC has always supported attempts to achieve pay and conditions for care workers commensurate with the important job they do. Care workers are often the only people seen by some of our most vulnerable citizens for days at a time; they are responsible for attending to meals as well as the most intimate care needs. Surely their pay and working conditions should ensure they can carry out their duties without one eye on the clock, and sufficient flexibility to treat each client with dignity and respect, and time for a chat too?

Bolton TUC urges all care workers to join a union and make sure they are paid appropriately; we also urge Bolton Labour Council to ensure all firms they currently subcontract care work to are providing the pay and conditions their workers deserve.

Finally Bolton TUC looks forward to the time under a Corbyn government when all care requirements for the Bolton family are restored to direct democratic local authority control.

Tom Hanley

Bolton TUC media correspondent