Charity ‘bewildered’ by union’s ‘hostile stance’ over pay deal

15 Nov 2018 News

Scottish social care charity Cornerstone has criticised workers’ union Unison for its “hostile stance” and “misleading statements” in negotiating a new pay deal for staff.

The charity recently offered a new pay deal to workers after it introduced a new initiative which will see some carers taking on management responsibilities.

Earlier this month Unison balloted its members employed by the charity, based in Aberdeen, and reported that some 92 per cent had voted to reject the offer.

But now the charity has said that it estimates only 3 per cent of its workforce, 66 staff members, actually participated in the ballot.

It said this is not “representative of Cornerstone’s workforce and therefore disingenuous of Unison to claim the contrary”.

Edel Harris, chief executive of Cornerstone, said: “Given we are a charity, delivering vital services to the most vulnerable in society in a challenging environment of ever-deepening cuts to public services, these statements by Unison are both misleading and unhelpful.

"They have angered many of our employees and, more importantly, raised unnecessary concern among the parents and guardians of those for whom we care, which is unforgivable.

"We are bewildered by Unison’s hostile stance, particularly when we know they have accepted pay deals with other comparable organisations in the voluntary care sector which are lower than ours."

The charity said it believes the current offer on the table is fair and all it can currently afford.

However, a meeting between the charity and the union is scheduled for the end of the month where they will attempt to find a compromise.

Deal on the table

Earlier this month the union called for:

  • A 3 per cent pay rise for staff who are not eligible for the Scottish Living Wage (not 1 per cent as proposed by Cornerstone)
  • Pay for sleep-in shift workers at the Scottish Living Wage, currently £8.75, backdated to 1 April 2018 (not October as proposed by Cornerstone)
  • Pay £12 per hour for all carers undertaking management responsibilities (not £10.10 per hour as proposed by Cornerstone)

It has also called for an improvement to sick pay and a commitment to no compulsory redundancies.

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