UNISON demanded properly funded increases for adult social care and the NHS today as delegates at the union’s annual conference blasted the Tories for failing to “care about care.”
Moving the motion on behalf of the national executive Jordan Rivera said the Conservative government’s record on care was one of “shame where thousands are forced to go without the care that they deserve.”
She added that care workers continued to be treated with contempt, with “many continuing to have to survive on zero-hour contracts.”
The truth is that the Tories “just don’t care about care,” Ms Rivera insisted.
She welcomed the Labour Party’s plans to create a national care service (NCS) and told the conference that they were the result of pressure from Unison.
But she warned: “We need to hold them to account to deliver.”
Ms Rivera also called on Labour not to spend any further money on the private sector.
She said: “There should be no more privatisation and our services need to be brought back in-house.”
Helen Gray from Yorkshire told the conference that the crisis in the care sector was “because of years of chronic underfunding.”
She said: “The reality for many migrant care workers was they were used and abused by employers and often forced to work in the most remote areas with no reimbursement of travel costs and money deducted for rent and utilities.”
Ms Gray told delegates that there was a need to secure a future for social care.
“The answer to achieving this is a NCS and a fair pay agreement to support the workers that deliver it.”
Yorkshire delegate Aiden O’Mally said: “Only one in 10 beds in the care service are currently provided by the public sector.
“The current crisis demonstrates the failure of the private sector to deliver.”
Mr O’Mally also called out the role of private equity companies in the current care sector.
He said: “They must be removed and the service brought under public control.”
Helen Caine from Merseyside drew attention to the recent Fabian Society report, which called for the establishment of a national care service and suggested that this could take place in 2028 — the 80th anniversary of the NHS.
She slammed remarks by Labour shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who has said that he supports the creation of such a service, but it was complex and would take time to deliver.
“Thankfully, Aneurin Bevan had more ambition when he set up the NHS,” Ms Caine said.
Retired member Rosie MacGregor described care as one of the most important issues facing the conference and stirred delegates with a folk song about the need to remove the Tories from power.
