Unite boss criticises council over health visitor dispute
Joe Lepper
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey is the latest senior political figure to support health visitors in their pay dispute with Lincolnshire County Council.
Health visitors in the county have already taken 32 days of industrial action and are balloting for further strikes.
They are concerned they have lost more than £2,000 a year since they were transferred under Agenda for Change terms from the NHS to Lincolnshire County Council control in 2017
The head of the UK's second largest union told Conservative Party-controlled Lincolnshire County Council bosses: "You are failing in your public duty to resolve the impasse and pay your health visitors what is theirs."
McCluskey said: "No worker takes strike action lightly, and not least those in the healthcare and caring professions.
"They are, highly qualified professionals, looking after our children, our young people and their families - looking after our futures.
"Unite will be with our courageous, dedicated, hardworking health visitors, fighting for the future of a profession and service under attack, and for all of us, every step of the way.
"We are stepping up the campaign for pay justice and we will win."
The union chief is particularly concerned that the role is being downgraded, with some health visitors being offered contracts and pay that do not reflect the expertise of their role in supporting families.
This would put health visitors on two different grades using "divide and rule tactics by splitting the role in two", said McCluskey.
McCluskey was speaking at the annual conference in Harrogate of the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association (CPHVA), which is part of Unite.
While in the region he also met with Lincolnshire health visitors, and also tweeted his support for them.
Great to meet with our fantastic Lincolnshire health visitors today, balloting again for further strikes. The council should be in no doubt - ?@unitetheunion? stands with these brave workers and we're stepping up the campaign for pay justice. ?@Unite_CPHVA? #CPHVA19 pic.twitter.com/22CkYCdqxu
— Len McCluskey (@LenMcCluskey) October 16, 2019
McCluskey's intervention follows public support from Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during the summer who tweeted his "solidarity to the striking health visitors in Lincoln".
Sending my solidarity to the striking health visitors in Lincoln today.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 17, 2019
Labour will always stand up for all our health workers, and ensure that they get the support they deserve.
The latest ballot for industrial action closes on 25 October. Previously, health visitors voted by an 84 per cent majority to strike.
Lincolnshire County Council's interim director for education Heather Sandy said that it had met for "constructive discussions" with Unite this week.
Sandy added that the council "is really encouraged by the interest staff have shown" in its careers scheme.
"Whilst the council remains committed to resolving the current dispute with Unite, we wish to highlight and recognise the hard work of our health visiting staff who are ensuring services continue to perform well against regional and national benchmarks," she said.
"As always, we value our health visiting workforce and the excellent support they provide to the children and families of Lincolnshire."
