A meeting between officials from the West Dunbartonshire HSCP and the council will take place amid protest from care staff outside this afternoon – with their union accusing HSCP chiefs of ignoring calls for a pause.
The union representing home carers in West Dunbartonshire have accused health chiefs of railroading plans for a controversial re-organisation of the service through ahead of another crunch meeting this afternoon.
The changes to social care have caused anger among some carers due to alterations to rotas which have been branded as “unworkable”.Councillors at the local authority recently voted narrowly in favour of recommending a pause for more talks between unions and the West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP),
But those calls have fallen on deaf ears, as fears about potential ‘fire and re-hire’ practices being introduced “by stealth” are also raised by union officials.
Workers held a rally on Thursday afternoon outside the West Dunbartonshire Council offices in Dumbarton ahead of the meeting between council supremos and HSCP managers.
AnnMarie Carrigan, GMB organiser at West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “The council’s vote was decisive and councillors clearly wanted this disruptive redesign paused to allow constructive discussions.
“Instead, the HSCP continues to steamroller through changes which will have a devastating impact on the lives of committed workers.
“Are councillors content that their clearly stated wishes are being ignored by unelected and apparently unaccountable officials?
“The refusal of the HSCP to pause and seriously engage with their staff in defiance of councillors’ wishes is abject and risks legal repercussions for the local authority.”
A poll of workers on the home care service carried out by the union evealed nearly nine out of ten (85 per cent) say their mental health has suffered because of the anxiety and stress caused by new working patterns.
It added that 72 per cent said the changes have cost them money because they have been forced to reduce their hours, with eight out of ten (80 per cent) believing the redesign has impacted their lives away from work.
In response, a spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire HSCP hit back at “misleading and inaccurate information” over the home care re-design.
The spokeswoman added: “The majority of employees have confirmed the new hours and shifts are more suitable for clients’ needs, and we continue to work with the very small number of employees to reach a mutually acceptable solution for their particular situation.
“We have been liaising with employees and Trade Union Representatives for more than three years and continue to do so while we embed changes to ensure our high standard of care at home continues.”
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