Derry PBP Councillor Shaun Harkin calls treatment of sick care home staff a 'scandal'

Colr. Harkin spoke out after the Unison trade union said staff at some care homes were only being offered statutory sick pay if they contracted SARS-Cov-2.

"It is a scandal that front line workers in. many private care homes don't receive sick pay from their employer. They are being punished for putting themselves on the front line. Workers have every right to take action now to demand full sick pay," he said.

The People Before Profit councillor claimed that many private owners were hostile to trade unions and called for the sector to be brought fully under public control.

"Privatisation of nursing care must end. All care homes should be brought back under the authority of the health service. Workers in care homes have every right to receive the same pay, terms and conditions, as a basic minimum, as workers in the health service. Obstruction to trade union representation must end.

"The Covid-19 crisis in care homes - from Covid-19 deaths, the lack of of PPE, staffing shortages and sick pay - has been created by parties in Westminster and Stormont who have weakened oversight and accountability to encourage profiteering at the expense of workers and residents.

"People Before Profit will continue to stand in full solidarity with the front line workers in all care homes."