THE voice of Scottish trade unionism called on the Scottish government today to ditch its National Care Service (NCS) plan that fails to “address fundamental issues” of profiteering and low pay.
The STUC’s call for a rethink comes just days after the council umbrella body Cosla withdrew its support last week, following the example of social care unions Unite, GMB and Unison.
Criticisms of the NCS (Scotland) Bill range from council concerns over the centralisation of social services to unions arguing it neither challenges the underfunding or the “rampant” profiteering in a sector notorious for job insecurity and low pay.
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “The government is ploughing on with the NCS Bill which fails to address fundamental issues about how social care is delivered and has lost the confidence of workers in the sector.
“The Scottish government seems hell-bent on repeating the mistakes of the past.
“We need urgent investment in social care and improved wages to attract and retain skilled staff.
“That can be done, in the here and now, without the need for a new NCS.”
Ms Foyer said that profiteering, low pay and insecure conditions within social care are “rampant” throughout the sector.
“It would appear the Scottish government, through the proposed NCS Bill, seems content for that to continue, something which we cannot allow in our name,” she said.
Scottish Labour’s Dame Jackie Baillie said: “Social care workers and the people who rely on care services are being let down by a system stretched to breaking point — but the SNP has nothing to offer them but more bureaucracy and centralisation.
“It’s time for the SNP to listen to the experts, go back to the drawing board and return with a plan that actually works.”
SNP social care minister Maree Todd said they were “not waiting for legislation to act and are implementing Fair Work measures.”
She added: “It is essential we establish a National Care Service that will improve people’s lives and quality of care, while ensuring those who deliver vital services feel supported.”
