Industrial action just short of an all-out strike could hit hundreds of patients of a vital care service in the Highlands.
Home carers – who are members of the GMB union – are being balloted amid claims planned changes to their contracts reveal they could be doing as many as five jobs rolled into one, new starts would be paid less and their mileage allowance would also be dramatically decreased.
Although the ballot doesn’t end until next week, most of the members who have returned their papers so far have decided to take action.
Liz Gordon, GMB’s regional officer, said: “At the moment there has been overwhelming support for action short of a strike. This means that the home carers won’t do overtime, fill in on other shifts and won’t work beyond the hours stated on their existing contracts.
“Many home carers do work above and beyond in order to help their clients and if the hours are controlled it will really show up the flaws in the system.
“The new mileage policy will also affect everyone across the board.”
The home carers – who moved under the NHS umbrella five years ago – still have Highland Council contracts, but talks have been held by NHS Highland in order to pave the way for a changeover.
Ms Gordon added: “Under the new NHS job description, carers starting out will be paid 50p an hour less. This means they are going to be asked to do more for less money as they could be redeployed into other jobs.
“It will be a real recruitment issue too as what advancement is there? There is no progression for a home carer.”
The ballot, understood to be of about 350 GMB members, will close on Friday, August 4.
NHS Highland said it will not make any further comment until the ballot is complete.
But last week a spokesman said: “Project redesign groups have been meeting to consider the changes to staff’s terms and conditions for a considerable period of time.
“As the redesign has included local initiatives based on the needs of the population, this has meant that changing staff terms and conditions and their work practice has progressed at a different pace throughout these units.
“However, NHS Highland is confident the partnerships we now have with the unions has led to very positive change.”
