Moray care workers secure thousands of pounds in back pay and significant pay rise after GMB Scotland support
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
MORAY care workers have won thousands of pounds in back pay and a significant pay rise after accusing Moray Council managers of undervaluing their work.
The news comes after the conclusion of a long-running review into the role of social care assistants working for the local authority.
As a result, most workers are now being paid £15 an hour according to GMB Scotland.
The union fought for the rise adding that it is hopeful that other councils across Scotland will follow Moray’s lead in what it described as “fairly recognising the changing role and responsibilities of care workers, mostly women, who have been undervalued and underpaid for decades”.
Cara Stevenson, GMB Scotland organiser, welcomed the council’s decision having been involved in negotiations.
She said: “The process took far too long but the council engaged seriously with the issues raised by our members.
“Other local authorities should follow its lead.
“Our members work in care providing crucial frontline support to some of the most vulnerable people in communities across Moray.
“That role has changed dramatically in recent years and that has been now recognised with fair pay.”
The union had appealed an initial job review in January 2023 claiming it did not fairly value the work done by Moray carers while insisting any pay increase should be backdated to 2022.
Having secured the pay rise, most care workers in Moray will earn an extra £2.24 an hour.
It is also estimated that a full time employee with more than three years’ service will have received over £4000 as a result of the campaign.
A Moray Council spokesperson said: "We have robust procedures in place to assess and determine the appropriate grade for each role within the council.
“The post of a social care assistant has been re-evaluated to reflect the current nature of the role and the service being delivered."
