UNISON
Many staff find social care hugely rewarding , and a successful FPA could be the route to many more care workers seeing a future in the sector , somewhere they can afford to continue working and where there are genuine career prospects .”
UNISON
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make social care a more secure and attractive sector to work in – as a way of addressing workforce shortages and thereby boosting the continuity of care available to service users .
The FPA would be a legally enforceable commitment that providers would have to abide by in order to deliver care services .
Many staff find social care hugely rewarding , and a successful FPA could be the route to many more care workers seeing a future in the sector , somewhere they can afford to continue working and where there are genuine career prospects .
Employment rights
The FPA featured in Labour ’ s New deal for working people . The document outlines the party ’ s plans to establish the first FPA in social care , with the potential to roll out the model to other sectors after a review .
The FPA was included in Labour ’ s election manifesto and in the new administration ’ s plans for government , as outlined in the King ’ s Speech in July . It forms part of Labour ’ s wide-ranging Employment Rights Bill ( ERB ), which is described as the ‘ biggest upgrade to workers ’ rights in a generation ’ and is designed to give effect to much of the new deal .
The bill will include significant changes , such as banning exploitative zero-hour contracts , ending the use of ‘ fire and rehire ’ and making flexible working the default from day one for all workers .
In addition , there are commitments to ensure that workers are able to access trade unions in their workplaces , and to do away with anti-union legislation such as the use of minimum service levels .
The campaign continues
The FPA would apply to England , but its successful implementation could bring benefits for care workers across the UK , so the union will be looking to build on and complement work that has already been undertaken by UNISON Scotland and UNISON Cymru / Wales with their respective devolved administrations .
UNISON has been clear from the start that producing fair pay and conditions for care workers is an essential first step on the longer road to developing a national care service , which Labour also committed to in its manifesto .
But the union is not resting on its laurels . UNISON motions to both TUC Congress and Labour Party Conference in September focused on the importance of delivering the FPA .
The UNISON stand at both events was also proudly emblazoned with the colours of the union ’ s Let ’ s Make Care Work campaign .
And it was UNISON that posed the first question from the floor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer after his speech to the TUC , focusing on the need for Labour to reassert its commitment to the FPA .
The Prime Minister ’ s response made clear that establishing a national care service is ‘ one of the absolute objectives ’ of his government and that this starts with the FPA , the ‘ foundation stone ’ of that service .
Alongside these big picture commitments , the union is continuing to raise the issue with ministers and officials at every opportunity .
The FPA can be a game-changer for care workers and for the care sector as a whole – it has the potential to make social care a thriving part of the economy . UNISON will continue to demand nothing less for our members and those that they care for .
Find out more by reading our employment law briefing on the government ’ s plans for new bills on employment rights and race and disability equality at https :// bit . ly / 4fr9Ipb .
Many staff find social care hugely rewarding , and a successful FPA could be the route to many more care workers seeing a future in the sector , somewhere they can afford to continue working and where there are genuine career prospects .”
Protecting you at work
For help and advice at work – or to find out more about UNISON services – please contact your local BAOT / UNISON rep , branch at https :// branches . unison . org . uk / or go to www . unison . org . uk / gethelp /.
If you need help at work 0800 0857 857 or www . unison . org . uk
November 2024 OTnews 51