UNISON slams Plymouth care firm failing to pay workers

UNISON has branded 1st Call Home Care a disgrace after finding the Plymouth care firm failing to pay workers a month’s wages.

The company, which employs around 100 staff across six care homes in Plymouth, claimed the lack of pay was “a glitch”. Despite promises to deal with the issue by the end of Friday, no solution has appeared.

The company’s many low paid staff hit by the pay problem are now likely to go the whole weekend without their wages. Care workers have already seen their direct debits fail to process and risk penalties if 1st Call continue to stall.

Care workers at 1st Call have seen their wages delayed before. UNISON has raised concerns that the company has a cash flow issue and could be on the rocks.

UNISON organiser in Plymouth Kerry Baigent said:

“These care workers do sterling work and now their employer has failed them again. Non-payment of wages betrays the most basic part of an employment relationship. No wonder the staff are up in arms, and UNISON will support them every step of the way.

“1st Call need to work round the clock to get these staff their month’s wages. Any further delay is unacceptable to them and their families. The company must also compensate workers for any financial penalties they’ve suffered as a result of 1st Call’s incompetence.

“The way 1st Call are treating the care workers is a disgrace. This latest episode underlines the need for Plymouth’s new council to implement the ethical care charter ASAP so all care workers get a fair deal.”