Lies, damned lies and Care UK
Here as some background to all the references to Islington and Care UK on this blog I have republished something from "Jon's union blog" written by my good pal Andrew Berry back in September. This explains some of the background, although bits are out of date and have been fast superceded by events that have galloped along at breakneck speed. We will be adding more on this as we go.
Mikey
Lies, damned lies and Care UK
Murial Street, Care Home ran by Care UK Care UK, who currently run two elderly care homes and two elderly day centres in Islington are attacking staff terms and conditions. Staff met with former Council and NHS staff to inform them that they intend to cut their wages by 50% by forcing staff onto Care UK terms and conditions. In addition to loss of pay it will also mean less holidays, less sick pay and increased hours worked and no final salary pension scheme. Care UK is offering money as a bribe to staff to voluntarily accept these terms. Care UK were due to meet staff on a one to one basis to no doubt to arm twist them into accepting the offer. The one off payment being offered will be lucky to cover their loss of earnings for a year.Three meetings with staff took place today simultaneously and UNISION reps were able to make two, members at both meeting unanimously agreed not to cooperate and a further meeting we had with the staff of a combined home and day centre later in the day also voted not to cooperate.Islington UNISON has demanded that they demonstrate with evidence, their statements that the contract they have with Islington is not “viable” and their statements that if staff do not change over to Care UK terms and condition’s that this will put the home in jeopardy and lead to loss of jobs. We further pointed out that Care UK pleading poverty was contradicted by their interim report to share holders dated June 2006, which states:“Residential Care achieved an improvement of 10% in turnover and 12% in operating profit, reflecting the successful commissioning of new contracted homes in the London Boroughs of Islington, Richmond-upon-Thames and Hammersmith & Fulham and the maintenance of a high level of beds paid for (financial occupancy at 98% in the first half, similar to recent years)”.
Our production of this report seemed to surprise the representatives of Care UK, maybe they should pay attention to their website more often. If they are telling us on the one hand, that they are in financial difficulty and tell their shareholders that the homes have lead to an increase in profit then both statements cannot be true! We have informed Care UK, as they continue to claim poverty, we will be investigating how to make a complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (if that is the correct body for selling shares on false information). If anyone knows how you go about such a complaint please let me know?Care UK is in no way a poor company and is floated on the stock market. The Chief Executive Officer (Mike Parrish) earns £359,000 per year. We are discussing with the members about taking strike action and are campaigning to bring the homes and daycentres back in house.You may have read that a similar issue faces comrades in Barnet UNISON and has been reported on this blog, Barnet UNISION have recently submitted a motion to the next UNISON Greater London Regional Council meeting which we will of cause be supporting, if not amending to include Islington, if these attacks on low paid mainly women our spreading across London then UNISON should be campaigning on a regional basis.
Mikey
Lies, damned lies and Care UK
Murial Street, Care Home ran by Care UK Care UK, who currently run two elderly care homes and two elderly day centres in Islington are attacking staff terms and conditions. Staff met with former Council and NHS staff to inform them that they intend to cut their wages by 50% by forcing staff onto Care UK terms and conditions. In addition to loss of pay it will also mean less holidays, less sick pay and increased hours worked and no final salary pension scheme. Care UK is offering money as a bribe to staff to voluntarily accept these terms. Care UK were due to meet staff on a one to one basis to no doubt to arm twist them into accepting the offer. The one off payment being offered will be lucky to cover their loss of earnings for a year.Three meetings with staff took place today simultaneously and UNISION reps were able to make two, members at both meeting unanimously agreed not to cooperate and a further meeting we had with the staff of a combined home and day centre later in the day also voted not to cooperate.Islington UNISON has demanded that they demonstrate with evidence, their statements that the contract they have with Islington is not “viable” and their statements that if staff do not change over to Care UK terms and condition’s that this will put the home in jeopardy and lead to loss of jobs. We further pointed out that Care UK pleading poverty was contradicted by their interim report to share holders dated June 2006, which states:“Residential Care achieved an improvement of 10% in turnover and 12% in operating profit, reflecting the successful commissioning of new contracted homes in the London Boroughs of Islington, Richmond-upon-Thames and Hammersmith & Fulham and the maintenance of a high level of beds paid for (financial occupancy at 98% in the first half, similar to recent years)”.
Our production of this report seemed to surprise the representatives of Care UK, maybe they should pay attention to their website more often. If they are telling us on the one hand, that they are in financial difficulty and tell their shareholders that the homes have lead to an increase in profit then both statements cannot be true! We have informed Care UK, as they continue to claim poverty, we will be investigating how to make a complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (if that is the correct body for selling shares on false information). If anyone knows how you go about such a complaint please let me know?Care UK is in no way a poor company and is floated on the stock market. The Chief Executive Officer (Mike Parrish) earns £359,000 per year. We are discussing with the members about taking strike action and are campaigning to bring the homes and daycentres back in house.You may have read that a similar issue faces comrades in Barnet UNISON and has been reported on this blog, Barnet UNISION have recently submitted a motion to the next UNISON Greater London Regional Council meeting which we will of cause be supporting, if not amending to include Islington, if these attacks on low paid mainly women our spreading across London then UNISON should be campaigning on a regional basis.
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