Frustrated care workers employed by CeraCare are threatening to act unless the company addresses inconsistencies in pay.
Carers in the organisation’s Extra Care schemes are currently paid just £9.50 per hour, £1 less than their colleagues in domiciliary care who earn £10.50 per hour.
In November 21, Extra Care staff also had their enhancements for weekend working removed when CeraCare were forced to increase their pay in line with the minimum wage rise last April.
The minimum wage increase had a knock-on effect for Scheme Managers who are now paid just pennies more while having additional responsibilities and long working weeks. To address this, CeraCare has offered a small pay rise but at the same time suggested removing overtime allowances and increasing the unpaid on call hours they must do. Changes such as these could easily take their average hourly rate below minimum wage.
Some of the care staff at CeraCare have been through two transfers of employment, from First Call to GemCare and now CeraCare. At First Call, UNISON had to help them obtain their proper wages when the company was in trouble a few years ago.
CeraCare is thought to be financially robust. The organisation has expanded its operation over the past few years and recently the directors’ pay has almost doubled. Yet the care staff undertaking the vital work are not seeing the profits trickle down. In recent months CeraCare has been forced to hand back work to Plymouth City Council as they struggle to retain staff.
Kevin Treweeks, Plymouth in UNISON branch secretary, said:
“I know from my own family what a great job these care workers do.
“It’s a scandal that they are being treated so poorly. Aren’t these the people we used to clap for on a Thursday night back in 2020?
“We’re seeing an increasing number of care workers taking action over pay across the country as they struggle with the cost of living. This group of care workers would be totally justified in doing the same.
“We hope, of course, that CeraCare will make such action unnecessary. UNISON has assisted the care workers with a formal pay claim for £10.50 per hour but so far no offer has been made, and whilst we have spoken with Cera they have also made it clear that they do not wish to be part of any negotiation process.”
