Plymouth City Council have become the third South West council to sign up to UNISON’s ‘Stop the Spread’ pledge, a key initiative by the UK’s biggest trade union to support care workers in the fight against coronavirus.
The pledge provides Plymouth’s key workers, in the frontline fight against coronavirus, with important employment protections. These include the provision of full pay during self-isolation and leave on full pay for workers caring for a dependent with COVID-19.
The pledge was developed to recognise that social care workers have been at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus, often placing their lives at risk by simply going to work.
UNISON has written to all county councils and unitary authorities across the South West calling on them to sign the pledge.
Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care for Plymouth City Council, Kate Taylor said:
“Our care workers have been caring for our most vulnerable residents throughout this pandemic, and continue to do so with pride and dedication every day.
“For too long, care workers have been undervalued by society and I am so pleased that care workers are being so widely recognised for the invaluable contribution they have always made to our city.
“Supporting UNISON’s Stop the Spread pledge reiterates Plymouth City Council’s commitment to protecting care workers and residents from COVID-19 and ensuring they are able to continue to do the incredible job they are doing safely, and not worry about the cost of doing so.”
UNISON South West regional secretary, Joanne Kaye said:
“Plymouth City Council have shown a clear committment to care workers across the city by adopting UNISON’s Stop The Spread pledge.
“Care workers have been on the frontline from the very first day of this pandemic, putting the people they care for above themselves and their families, they deserve the highest level of support and protection that employers can provide.”
