Care home employer’s plans to cut pay and sick leave for over 100 staff ‘beyond belief’, says UNISON
Plans by a major Leicestershire care home employer to make drastic cuts to pay, sick leave and holidays for more than 100 staff have (Thursday 30 April) been condemned by UNISON.
The move by Leicestershire County Care, whose parent company Johnson Care Group made accumulated profits of £4.8m last year, was branded ‘beyond belief’ by the union and an ‘insult’ to already low-paid workers who are putting their lives on the line during the coronavirus pandemic.
UNISON has now written to councillors demanding they intervene to protect staff who provide support to elderly and vulnerable residents in more than a dozen care homes across the county.
Those targeted by Leicestershire County Care are currently on contracts drawn up when the staff were employed by Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council, according to the union.
Last week, the care firm informed UNISON that it wants to scrap payments for night work, weekend shifts and overtime. The worst affected workers will see their weekly pay cut.