Norfolk County Council care home workers are to get a pay cut of up to £1000 a year. This will affect 1600 workers, yet they already struggle on as little as £5.30 an hour, and often have to work long and unsocial hours.
It was reported in today's local newspaper that the council yesterday decided to go ahead with a £500,000 cut in its social services wage bill.
It is unethical for some of the lowest paid workers to face such a significant pay cut, but it would also have an adverse impact on elderly and vulnerable clients of the care homes. The job would become less attractive and recruitment problems already existing would deepen.
As the daughter of a care home worker, I am very concerned about this proposal. Care home workers do an essential job for society by helping vulnerable people. I think it is important to stand up for those who protect ordinary people's quality of life.
To find out more, read the newspaper article on  http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/News/NewsStory.asp?Brand=EDPONLINE&Category=NEWS&ItemId=NOED25+Feb+2002+12%3A11%3A57%3A483
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