Doncaster care workers start 21-day strike over pay

Around 70 care workers in Doncaster have begun three weeks of industrial action as part of their ongoing pay dispute with Care UK.

Members of Unison are calling for wages in the area to rise from £7 to the national living wage of £7.65 per hour.

The workers, who care for adults with learning disabilities for Doncaster Council, have taken 48 days of strike action since February.  

Jim Bell, of Unison, accused Care UK of "flatly refusing to negotiate."

"Our members love their jobs and the people they care for but are being forced to look for work elsewhere just to survive," he said.

"Their battle is not just for their own pay and conditions, it is to save a vital NHS service from privatised greed."

A spokesperson for Care UK said the demand for a pay increase was “simply unaffordable.”

He added: "Care UK's approach in Doncaster has protected all the jobs within the service at a time when it has been necessary to cut over 1,000 jobs within other council services in the city.

"It has also protected NHS final salary pension rights and future pay increments and made a transitional payment equivalent to 14 months difference in earnings to those who transferred from the previous provider."