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BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
BCP Council's first unified pay structure agreed
Staff at a unitary authority will be on the same pay structure for the first time in a council's history following a vote by of employees at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council have been on different rates of pay since it was formed in years of negotiations with unions, the changes were unanimously agreed at the full council meeting on new terms and conditions will be implemented from 1 December. Last month, GMB and Unison union members voted in favour of the latest proposals which will mean at least 92% of staff will have either an increase or no change in their facing a pay cut will have their salary protected at current levels for a further 18 Tuesday's meeting, councillors approved the additional £1.7m investment needed for the new pay leader Millie Earl said: "Achieving fairness and equality in our pay and grading structure for our staff has always been our primary aim."Getting to this position has taken a huge amount of hard work and effort from everyone involved and we are delighted that we can now offer fair and transparent pay for our workforce." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on Labour's visa crackdown in social care: another problem for an overstretched system
There are currently around 130,000 vacancies in the social care sector, a higher proportion of unfilled roles than anywhere else in the labour market. According to the industry body Skills for Care, an ageing population means that 540,000 new care workers will be needed by 2040. Finding them, in a sector where employees have historically been grossly underpaid and undervalued, will be one of the challenges of the next decade. Against that disconcerting backdrop, curtailing the practice of hiring care workers from overseas would seem to be – to put it mildly – counterintuitive policymaking. But that is what the government has chosen to do, despite opposition from both Care England and Unison, the biggest union representing health and care workers. On Tuesday, as part of Labour's broader drive to significantly reduce legal migration, the special visa route that allowed international staff to ease a dire recruitment crisis was closed down. Care workers already here on a sponsorship visa will have to stay for 10 years rather than five to win indefinite leave to remain. Justifying the decision, Labour has pointed to evidence of abuse of the visa system by unscrupulous employers. Egregious exploitation of vulnerable workers has undoubtedly taken place, and needs to be fully stamped out. But that could be achieved through better regulation, rather than what amounts to a ban on future hiring from abroad. In truth, the government's motives have more to do with the wider political goal of spiking Reform UK's guns on immigration. The upshot for the social care sector is that institutions already on the edge, as a result of rising costs and understaffing, have lost a potential future lifeline. The number of care workers recruited from overseas had, in any case, already fallen steeply last year after visas for dependants were curtailed. But in a notoriously dysfunctional system, their presence has continued to be indispensable. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has responded to concerns by arguing that providers will in future have to make a greater effort to attract domestic applicants. In the brave new world envisaged by Ms Cooper, that should lead to a much-needed improvement in pay and working conditions as employers seek to incentivise new recruits. To hasten this process, Labour has proposed measures designed to pave the way for a 'fair pay agreement' in the sector. Such initiatives are long overdue in a historically underunionised environment. But truly transformative change will only come about through the type of central funding settlement that successive governments have promised and then failed to deliver. It is a national disgrace that one in five residential care workers live in poverty, despite performing a vital, often stressful role that requires complex skills. But cash-strapped councils already overwhelmed by the cost of commissioning social care are not in a position to help right that wrong. Labour has charged Dame Louise Casey with coming up with a comprehensive financial solution. But her independent commission into adult social care will not make its final report until 2028, by which time parliament's focus will be entirely on the next election. For the foreseeable future, those requiring the services of Britain's chronically neglected adult social care sector will thus be obliged to take their chances. That makes this week's decision to reject future assistance from overseas look shortsighted at best, and politically cynical at worst.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
All the times Rayner and Starmer championed immigration
Angela Rayner has admitted that immigration has had a 'profound impact on society' and that the Government must 'acknowledge the real concerns people have' on the issue. But both she and Sir Keir Starmer have previously spoken more positively about immigration to Britain, or appeared to deprioritise the issue compared to other societal problems. The Telegraph has unearthed past statements from Sir Keir and Ms Rayner that show how their public positions on the matter have changed over their time in politics. Keir Starmer – Winter 1987 Sir Keir became a barrister in Middle Temple in 1987, the same year that he wrote an article in the Socialist Lawyer magazine in which he said there was a 'racist undercurrent' to immigration law. Reviewing a recently-released book about the area of law, he wrote that the author 'points to the preferential treatment of EEC (European Economic Community) visitors and settlers in this country to show the racist undercurrent which permeates all immigration law, whether implemented by the Tories or Labour'. He added: 'It's not a question of numbers, it's a question of racism.' Angela Rayner – March 2013 Before her career in Westminster, and while still working for Unison, Ms Rayner said that it was a 'total myth' that migration led to people coming to Britain to claim benefits. Writing on Twitter, she said: 'So angry 2day with Gov't it's a total myth that migration causes people 2come here &claim benefits - its total rubbish they work & boost (the economy)!' So angry 2day with Gov't it's a total myth that migration causes people 2come here &claim benefits -its total rubbish they work &boost econ! — Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) March 25, 2013 Keir Starmer – Sept 2015 A few months after being elected as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Sir Keir tweeted a government petition entitled: 'Accept more asylum seekers and increase support for refugee migrants in the UK.' He pushed for public support as 'we need urgent action to take refugees and review ineffective asylum rules'. Angela Rayner – Sept 2016 Just months after the Brexit result, Ms Rayner said that while she thought 'immigration is a good thing for the UK', there needed to be 'controls' on migration. She told BBC News: 'I believe that you do need controls and we have always had controls on immigration. Immigration is a good thing for the UK but what is not good is when people don't know about what numbers we have.' Angela Rayner – Dec 2016 Ms Rayner condemned Theresa May after it emerged that the Home Office, when she was home secretary, had suggested that schools could withdraw places offered to children if their parents were found to be living in the UK illegally. In a statement as shadow education secretary, Ms Rayner said: 'We have a legal and moral obligation to educate these children. Not doing so leads to segregation and breeds extremism that puts us all at risk.' She added: 'Children should not be used as pawns in Tory political games and schools should be protected as places of learning – not a replacement border force.' Keir Starmer – April 2017 Sir Keir was handed the role of shadow Brexit secretary by Jeremy Corbyn in October 2016. Unveiling the party's Brexit strategy, he said: 'We recognise that immigration rules will have to change as we exit the EU, but we do not believe that immigration should be the overarching priority.' Keir Starmer – Feb 2019 In an interview for BBC Newsnight, Sir Keir said that Britain should 'explore' qualified free movement of EU workers. 'If somebody is coming to do a job and it needs to be done and it has been advertised locally beforehand with nobody able to do it, then most people would say 'I accept that.'' Keir Starmer – Jan 2020 Sir Keir was the first to respond to a questionnaire sent by the Labour for Free Movement group to prospective party leaders. He said: 'I will always defend migrants' rights and make the positive case for immigration … I believe that should be protected as we leave the EU, and I am very concerned at the impact that [Boris] Johnson's plans to end free movement will inevitably have on our economy, migrants' rights and the freedom for people to work and live in the EU.' Angela Rayner – Feb 2020 Ms Rayner said that immigration has 'always been a positive' for Britain during the race for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party. She told Andrew Marr, then at the BBC: 'A lot of people think that the Red Wall seats, the Midlands and the North, is that we're all somehow closet racists and we don't like people coming to this country. It's completely untrue. We're actually quite a migrant country anyway and have been.' She added: 'So actually what we want and what my voters say to me that they want is they want a transparent, fair immigration policy that recognises contributions that people make to this country.' Ms Rayner wrote later on Twitter: 'I'll be fighting to make sure we have a fair immigration system that's transparent, that recognises that our country has always had immigration and it's always been a positive for this country.' Keir Starmer – Sept 2020 The Labour leader told Times Radio that 'family members [from other countries] should be able to live together' in Britain, and that the nation 'couldn't function' without the flow of people seeking work here. Angela Rayner – Aug 2021 Ms Rayner hit out at Dominic Raab, the then foreign secretary, for claiming that Britain was a 'big-hearted nation', saying the country did not 'have a big-hearted government'. She wrote on Twitter: 'We have a government that slashes international aid spending, shuts down safe routes for asylum seekers and uses the plight of refugees to stoke division and culture wars.'
STV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Scottish Water workers accept pay offer but ‘concerns continue', says union
A series of strikes have been brought to an end as Scottish Water workers accepted an improved pay offer, but union officials said 'staff concerns continue'. Unison said on Thursday that the latest pay deal, which covers the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, had been accepted by its members. The union represents more than 1,000 workers at the Government-owned corporation, making it the union with the largest presence at Scottish Water. The pay deal is worth a minimum of £2,850 for staffers on salary bands one to six. Staff on band seven salaries will receive an additional £3,030, and band eight workers will gain another £3,771. Some 77% of Unison members at Scottish Water voted, 63% of whom accepted the offer. Scottish Water initially offered workers a basic pay rise of 3.4% or £1,050 for those on the lowest grades. Unison members had earlier rejected an improved pay offer from the employer. There were ten days of strike action this year at Scottish Water. Staff who took action included treatment plant operators, maintenance crews, water quality teams and other frontline workers. During the strikes, the union said there were no emergency repairs, water quality checks, or responses to public reports of problems with water supply, sewage or drainage. The employer had originally offered a pay rise of £1,050 for those on the lowest-grade salaries. This was later upped to 7% over two years, which was also rejected. While the latest offer was accepted, Unison said it will continue to press Scottish Water bosses to cut the excessive use of contractors and agency staff. The union also said more must be done to improve industrial relations across the sector following the dispute. Unison Scotland regional organiser Greig Kelbie said: 'The immediate dispute may be over, but staff concerns continue. They want better pay and conditions, and to keep Scottish Water as a publicly-owned and run service. 'The company's behaviour has become ever more like that of profit-driven water firms in England. That's not the way a vital public service for Scotland should operate. 'The union and staff will be fighting the creeping privatisation of the industry.' Unison Scottish Water branch secretary Patricia McArthur said: 'Staff have decided to accept this offer after a long and difficult dispute, but it's far from ideal. 'In theory, Scottish Water is still the jewel in the crown of Scotland's public services. But the reality is that its operations are being handed increasingly to private operators. That must stop.' Fellow unions GMB and Union have also been in dispute with the employer. Lynne Highway, Scottish Water's director of people, said: 'We are pleased that members of all three trade unions have voted to accept our pay offer. 'We now look forward to implementing the salary increases that our people have been waiting for and to working constructively with the trade unions in the future.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
South Wales Argus
17-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Scottish Water workers accept pay offer but ‘concerns continue', says union
Unison said on Thursday that the latest pay deal, which covers the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, had been accepted by its members. The union represents more than 1,000 workers at the Government-owned corporation, making it the union with the largest presence at Scottish Water. The pay deal is worth a minimum of £2,850 for staffers on salary bands one to six. Staff on band seven salaries will receive an additional £3,030, and band eight workers will gain another £3,771. Some 77% of Unison members at Scottish Water voted, 63% of whom accepted the offer. Scottish Water initially offered workers a basic pay rise of 3.4% or £1,050 for those on the lowest grades. Unison members had earlier rejected an improved pay offer from the employer. There were 10 days of strike action this year at Scottish Water. Staff who took action included treatment plant operators, maintenance crews, water quality teams and other frontline workers. During the strikes, the union said there were no emergency repairs, water quality checks, or responses to public reports of problems with water supply, sewage or drainage. The employer had originally offered a pay rise of £1,050 for those on the lowest-grade salaries. This was later upped to 7% over two years, which was also rejected. While the latest offer was accepted, Unison said it will continue to press Scottish Water bosses to cut the excessive use of contractors and agency staff. The union also said more must be done to improve industrial relations across the sector following the dispute. Unison Scotland regional organiser Greig Kelbie said: 'The immediate dispute may be over, but staff concerns continue. They want better pay and conditions, and to keep Scottish Water as a publicly-owned and run service. 'The company's behaviour has become ever more like that of profit-driven water firms in England. That's not the way a vital public service for Scotland should operate. 'The union and staff will be fighting the creeping privatisation of the industry.' Unison Scottish Water branch secretary Patricia McArthur said: 'Staff have decided to accept this offer after a long and difficult dispute, but it's far from ideal. 'In theory, Scottish Water is still the jewel in the crown of Scotland's public services. But the reality is that its operations are being handed increasingly to private operators. That must stop.' Fellow unions GMB and Union have also been in dispute with the employer. Lynne Highway, Scottish Water's director of people, said: 'We are pleased that members of all three trade unions have voted to accept our pay offer. 'We now look forward to implementing the salary increases that our people have been waiting for and to working constructively with the trade unions in the future.'
