Delay After Delay For Section 39 Workers

Earlier this year care workers balloted for industrial action for pay justice. In 2010 they took pay cuts in line with the public sector when the government put our cash into bankers’ pockets after the financial crash but they have not yet had the same pay restoration as other workers.

As a result up to a third of staff left roles over the past few years. But 5,000 workers voted for strike action after zero engagement from the government. This came amid a general election campaign with the usual hollow promises with an infamous interaction in a shop between Simon Harris and care worker Charlotte Fallon showing the true face of the government when he coldly walked away from her.

Eventual WRC talks in February & March secured an increase of 2.25% backdated to 1st October 2024 with an increase in pay of 1% in April 2025. Further increases in November 2025 of 2% and a 4% increase in 2026. The government also made a commitment to include these workers in future public pay agreements.

What has happened is delay after delay and excuse after excuse. In some cases the money wasn’t released by funding agencies and in other cases the organisations delayed passing on the pay increases. With workers put last as usual the unions and the government decided to set up a committee in the WRC called a “joint implementation group” to investigate the hold up.

They met in August and September investigating; all the while workers pay stayed the same with the cost of living increased further. The update from unions this week is that “…funds have been released by the majority of the funding agencies, and many members will finally begin to see the difference in their pay packets …”

They go on to say that “…some will benefit this month, there may be further delays for others. So please do get in touch with your branch if you are facing further delays or a lack of clarity from your employer.”

This is outrageous! After a decade of fighting for pay justice care workers are again put last and treated with utter contempt by this government. It is an example to other workers about how you will be treated and that we need to urgently build militancy in the unions and organise in the workplace.