Local authority Rotherham Council has signed an Ethical Care Charter, marking its commitment to supporting ethical pay for all care home employees.
Rotherham Council signed the charter, created by trade union Unison in 2013, on Wednesday 20 February 2020. This is a pledge to work with care organisations within the borough towards ending zero-hour contracts, and reflecting travel time between home visits in care workers’ pay.
The charter, signed at Rotherham Town Hall, also pledges that all home care firms contracted to work with the council will be expected to pay at least the real living wage at £9.30 an hour to all employees from April 2020. This pay rise will affect 800 home care staff.
Dave Prentis (pictured, second from right), general secretary at Unison, said: “Care workers play a vital role in improving the quality of life for huge numbers of vulnerable and elderly people. They should be treated with respect and deserve to be treated well at work.
“By signing Unison’s Ethical Care Charter, Rotherham Council is setting an example about the way we value workers who’re so important to our communities.”
Chris Read (pictured, second from left), leader at Rotherham Council, added: “We have been working towards this charter for some time, this is an important step in continuing to improve our services, valuing the dignity of both our staff and service users. This charter commits to a better service for them and better conditions for local people working with them.”