UNISON members working as carers for Future Directions in Rochdale have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action over cuts to their pay and conditions.
The action, by 114 low paid UNISON members who support adults with disabilities, will take place on the bank holiday weekend (25-27 May). Future Directions took the contract on from Rochdale Council in October 2012, knowing that to make the contract viable they would need to save money. UNISON says it is wrong to make the savings by drastically slashing member’s pay.
Helen Harrison, UNISON Rochdale Branch Secretary, said: “Our members provide a vital service to vulnerable adults living in Rochdale. They do a tough job, and now they are being asked to do it for even less money, on worse terms and conditions. Some of our members may lose their homes because of these drastic cuts. They care deeply about the services they provide, but have no choice but to take this strike action.”
Lizanne Devonport, UNISON Regional Organiser, said: “Future Directions can avoid this disruption by reconsidering their actions to cut the pay and terms of its workforce. Our members work hard, day in day out, supporting adults with disibilities and these pay cuts will hit them hard. The company has to look at other ways to make savings. They need to recognise the important work that these members do and that they deserve to be paid a decent wage for doing it.”
