Unfortunately, many in the UK are well underpaid, some much more than others and this has been caused by lack of Government management over many years and not only from one political party.
This and many previous Governments keep saying that The UK economy can’t afford this and that, but, is it not surprising that money can always be found for ‘so called’ Government pet projects.
Money was found in 2008 for the Banking Crisis, for many instances of MPs pay, ‘fat cats’ of industry and Chief Executives, COVID pandemic, helping Ukraine in this offensive war by Russia on Ukraine and more.
Not that some of the above was necessary for in many ways it was, but that does not help in the means of living for the many in the UK.
Benefits for the vulnerable have not kept pace with the costs of living, so as the salaries for many in the public sector and also many in the private sectors.
For years much of the UK work force have been receiving less than inflation pay rises or no pay rises at all, while work demands have been increasing, so in effect most of us have been working and doing more for much less monetary reward.
While it goes without saying that substantial pay rises are required, also required is a reevaluation of the gap in pay from the lowest paid to the highest paid in the UK as a whole, but also in many different companies and organisations. In this there should be some factor that the highest paid are not paid more than a stated percentage above that of the lowest paid, tax treatments that reflect on the means to live, so much less on the lower paid and slightly more on the higher paid.
The Inland Revenue also have a part to play, in that when looking at unpaid tax or tax avoidance that they don’t solely concentrate on those easiest to monitor, but also much more on the hardest to monitor, be they be individuals or multi national organisations. Tax treatments need to be much more equalised than currently they are in all aspects of tax calculation and collection.
But most of all the most underpaid should be a priority and while most in the UK are well underpaid, some are more so than others and have been for much more than I care to remember.
Here the article is looking at social care in the public sector and I agree that pay is not what it should be and also the excessive workloads due to lack of staff, increases in concerns arising from lack of social care in the UK population due mainly to inactions of all previous Governments.
In my view Social care within the community has, not only been underfunded for years, but has never been, really, sufficiently funded since, at least 1948, when the NHS was formed. A grave mistake was made in 1948, in that, social care was not, anywhere near fully associated with health care. For way too long as there been much duplication in work, insufficient working together and too much active confrontations, especially in who finances what.
In addition is the pay for care workers and their status in the realms of working. They are deemed to be unskilled workers, when to provide good quality care they need to be well skilled, for it is not just doing the bare minimum without considering the individual to whom care is being given. We are all individuals no matter what age we are and we all have individual needs and most of all should have choices which should be considered. For way too long the concept of ‘one fits all’ as been the way forward, for that does not, in anyway, follow the concept of choice, just the opposite. For years, not only has social care been seriously underfunded, but also seriously understaffed, of which pay is only one consideration for there are many others. These to include, working conditions, sick pay, travel expenses, holiday entitlement, unsocial hours payments, and much more
This and previously Governments have done little or more correctly nothing to rectify this and in many instances have made it much worse by not viewing the problems, or not wishing to understand the problems, after all they are caring for the elderly, children and adults with disabilities, the poor and those with ill-health who many, if not all Governments have viewed as being an inconvenience and not to be really bothered with. This is until there are safeguarding concerns and even then these are viewed in isolation by the Government and regretfully much of the UK population. The years of Government inactions are not considered, but the lack of ‘Duty of Care’ of Social Work departments and Social Workers are, when in many respects the departments and social workers are doing the best they can with the meagre resources available, but to years of Government underfunding for Local Authorities, then on top the 10 years of austerity cuts and followed by, at least, 2 years of additional COVID expenditure.
No wonder mistakes are made, when there are insufficiencies of social workers, extremely excessive workloads, maybe lack of sufficient management and supervision, as LAs try to save money and too much pressures being brought on from above.
So, I don’t begrudge the current salary demands, but in doing so, do consider your fellow workers, for it is not their faults and they maybe in a much worse financial position as you are.
Striking, is not really the best option, as this only affects or much more affects the persons who are there is care for. It is Government you need to go for and go for directly and not indirectly as will be by striking.
What there needs be is compulsory arbitration by a fully independent body of Government control and be binding on all parties. Ideally also a Government who is prepared to listen and then take the appropriate actions, nit for the Government but for the parties who are raising their grievances.
We should all be working together.
Source: Unions seek 10.8% pay rise for Cafcass workers amid staffing crisis
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