Shortfall shift system means vital care workers made to work unpaid
Essential care workers at Plymouth council are to take strike action for the first time due to disgraceful management practices at the Independence @ Home (I@H) department.
Workers at I@H provide support and care across the city for vulnerable adults at all times of day and night. They care for adults with mental health issues, substance addictions and terminal illnesses.
Since care services were brought back under council control in 2019, it has operated a “shortfall shift” system. Management within I@H monitor and record the ‘downtime’ between home visits, despite this clearly being working time. Appointments being cancelled at short notice or there being no appointments at certain points in the working day means carers can often be left sitting in their cars, sometime alone at night, waiting to be allocated work.
The council has been making carers come in during subsequent weeks to work this time again, often on a designated day off, but with no pay of any kind. Nowhere else in the council does this system exist and nowhere else within the council are staff required to make up ‘lost hours’ in this way.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an outrageous way to treat vital staff who do some of the most essential yet difficult work imaginable – caring for the most vulnerable in our society. Plymouth council is treating them appallingly by expecting them to work for free to make up ‘lost time’. This clearly isn’t free time as care workers remain on duty.
“Our members will no longer accept such practices and have the full backing of Unite as they take to the picket line next week.”
Unite believes that these carers are due financial compensation for the hours they have worked. Unite has estimated that the total value of the financial detriment experienced could be in the region of £250,000.
Nearly 50 care workers will be taking strike action from Monday 25th November through to and including Sunday 1st of December and again on Monday 23rd December through to and including Sunday 29th December.
There will be a picket line at the council offices on West Hoe Road and there will also be a demonstration that will take place outside the Council House adjacent to the Civic Centre to coincide with a full council meeting scheduled for 13;00 on Monday 25th November.
Unite regional officer Joseph Murphy said: “The actions of Plymouth council over the last six months have been extremely disappointing and the failure to properly engage with Unite and make any offer to settle this dispute is a deliberate decision that has caused a great deal of distress to the membership.
"Our members have an unselfish instinct is to care, and for them to be put in the position where they have to strike to be heard and respected is simply unacceptable. They have worked a huge number of hours for nothing. Senior management within Plymouth council are fully aware of this. Its time the council pays what it owes.”