Unite’s Social Care Manifesto

That the Parliament recognises the service, sacrifice and professionalism of Scotland’s care home sector workers; acknowledges the Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland, known as the Feeley Report, as a step forward, but one that it considers fails to adequately address what it sees as the chronic levels of low pay, the disparity in terms and conditions between those working in social care, and the lack of investment in the sector; supports Unite the Union’s social care manifesto as a basis for improving conditions and standards in the sector; notes that the manifesto demands include a properly funded and publicly-owned National Care Service, which involves participation from the trade unions and local government, a minimum of £15 an hour for all social care workers, a minimum floor of terms and conditions for all social care workers, including two 30-minute paid rest breaks, access to enhanced sick pay and consistent provision of pensions, and the establishment of collective bargaining in all areas of social care services, including the third sector and private sector, and supports the Scottish Social Services Council registration fee being fully funded by the Scottish Government on the basis that social care workers, a predominantly female workforce, are, it understands, among the lowest paid providing a vital public health service.