Social care workers in Suffolk are taking their campaign for fair pay straight to county councillors on Thursday with a rally outside council headquarters.
Union UNISON has organised the demonstration to persuade councillors to support a motion recognising the vital work of social care staff.
The motion, proposed by Labour’s Sandy Martin, calls on Suffolk County Council to ensure that all the care services it commissions pay at least the Foundation Living Wage — independently calculated as the minimum a person can live on.
It would also make sure social care workers in Suffolk receive contractual sick pay and better opportunities for training and promotions.
Sandy Martin will address the rally, which takes place from 1pm to 2pm outside Endeavour House, alongside local frontline care workers and UNISON officials.
UNISON Suffolk County branch secretary Neil Bland said: “Social care staff were rightly praised during the pandemic but their job hasn’t become any less important just because attention has turned elsewhere.
“Every day care workers look after the most vulnerable people in our society, helping to make sure they can have a decent and dignified life.
“But many simply can’t afford to support themselves while they’re doing it. All we’re asking is that social care staff are paid what they’re worth.”
