Workers across the Community and Voluntary sector have been tireless in their efforts to protect the vulnerable throughout the pandemic and deserve a real cost of living pay rise and improved terms and conditions.
However, the announcement by the Communities Minister of a significant uplift for workers in the C&V sector falls well short of what is needed and what workers demand.
Those workers set to benefit deserve it and a lot more – but for the vast majority it won’t undo more than a decade of wage stagnation and the erosion of terms and conditions.
We have been contacted by many community workers asking why they won’t be covered by the uplift.
The pay increase and improvement in terms only covers a very small number of workers in the C&V sector.
For example, DfC funds Supporting People projects but none of the workers there will benefit from this announcement.
The Minister is in danger of promoting a divisive two-tier system in workplaces leading organisations to be concerned about equality challenges and how to secure funding for workers not covered by the uplift.
The Minister stipulates some DfC funded positions must receive the real living wage – while it’s just a recommendation for the vast majority of jobs.
The 2% wage increase for those workers set to receive an uplift isn’t adequate amid a cost of living crisis – and the additional non-consolidated 7% increase will negatively impact workers on Universal Credit, especially workers accessing childcare.
The uplift was clearly done in a rush without consultation with organisations in the sector or trade unions representing workers. Following from our proposal, Derry and Strabane Council will now hear directly from Unison Community Branch and Advice Providers.
C&V workers have been ignored by the Minister and the Executive for more than a decade. The Minister’s inadequate response to demands for improved pay and conditions is a sign that pressure is building on the government and employers from workers unwilling to continue to tolerate poor treatment and a lack of respect.
The turmoil in Stormont is only exposing how workers and those with the least have been failed by an Executive that prioritised elites and the politically-connected.
No one should wait until after 5 May to see if they will get real improvements in pay and treatment. We encourage workers across society to take action now where necessary to see their demands acted upon.
