Category: MAtthew Egan

Staff at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will strike today (Tuesday) in their ongoing dispute over pay, says UNISON today (Tuesday)

Employees represented by UNISON, including those working in inspection teams, call centres and data analysis, will walk out along with colleagues belonging to PCS and Unite.

There will be severely reduced capacity at call centres to deal with reports from the public about serious concerns, emergency inspections may not take place and planned visits may be delayed or cancelled, says UNISON. The CQC is already under strain because of the huge demand on its services, the union warns.

Last month, CQC staff started a continuous work to rule that is due to continue until September. This means they only worked the hours for which they are paid, refuse overtime and take all their breaks in full.

UNISON says staff have been given an inadequate pay rise, despite having to work extra hours because of their excessive workloads. The situation has been worsened by growing vacancy levels as staff desert the commission for better-paid jobs, adds the union.

Employees voted to strike after they received a pay increase of between 2.75% and 3.5%. They were also given a one-off payment of £100 or £150 in December, depending on their salary grade.

UNISON national officer Matthew Egan said: “Without CQC staff, all sorts of abuses, malpractice and neglect would go unnoticed in health and care services.

“The strike will have an inevitable impact on the commission’s work with delays and cancellations to inspections, worsening the huge backlog. Without government intervention the dispute could escalate and drag on for months.

“Wage levels at the commission simply don’t reflect its essential work that makes a real difference to the care and treatment of huge numbers of people. Improving pay will make a real difference in stemming the staff exodus.

“The CQC has to think again about this substandard pay award and has to be allowed to negotiate with unions directly to avoid further disruption.”

Note to editors:
– In March 2023, more than 700 workers represented by UNISON took part in a ballot in which 73% voted to strike and 92% backed action short of a strike.
– Staff will be at picket lines at the following CQC locations:
Newcastle – Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4PA (9am to noon)
Nottingham – Seaton House, City Link, Nottingham, NG2 4LA (9am onwards)
Manchester – City Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, (Piccadilly Gardens entrance), Manchester, M1 4BT (8.30am onwards)

– UNISON is among five unions with mandates for industrial action. Prospect have a mandate for action short of strike only and PCS a mandate for strike. UNISON, Unite and the RCN have mandates for both. But only UNISON, Unite and PCS are on strike on 2nd May.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 865794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Movement on pay needed to avoid delays and cancellations of CQC inspections, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Hundreds of staff at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are to strike for one day in a dispute over pay, says UNISON today (Thursday).

Staff represented by UNISON, including those working in inspection teams, call centres and data analysis, will be striking on Tuesday 2 May. Workers represented by the PCS and Unite will also be on strike on the same day.

CQC employees started a continuous work to rule on Monday 17 April 2023. This means they are only working the hours they are paid for, not doing overtime and talking all the breaks they are entitled to until September 2023.

UNISON balloted workers after employees received an imposed pay increase of between 2.75% and 3.5%. They also received a one-off payment of £100 or £150 depending on their salary grade last December 2022.

CQC staff regulate registered health and social care services across England including hospitals, care homes, GP practices and dental surgeries to ensure care is delivered safely.

They carry out planned, as well as urgent inspections following safeguarding concerns raised by the public or workers through the CQC’s call centre.

But low pay and huge workloads have left staff with no option but to leave the CQC for better paid jobs elsewhere, says UNISON.

The union says it expects that some CQC services will be affected as a result of the strike.

Urgent inspections to investigate issues raised before the action will be delayed until after the strike. People may also struggle to get through to the call centre on strike day, says UNISON.

The CQC currently isn’t able to directly negotiate pay settlements with unions as it is bound by civil service pay guidelines and rules.

UNISON says CQC workers want their senior leadership to put more pressure on the government. They would then get approval by ministers to negotiate an improved pay settlement for staff, according to the union.

UNISON national officer Matthew Egan said: “CQC employees do a vital job to ensure that patients, care home residents and others in need of support receive safe care.

“It’s a huge deal that CQC workers have decided to strike. Employees are reluctant to take action but many are struggling. Their wages have failed to keep up with the rising cost of living.

“CQC workers are critical in ensuring that registered providers and services deliver care safely. The government must recognise their contribution and let the employer reward them accordingly to limit disruptions.”

Note to editors:
– In March 2023, more than 700 workers represented by UNISON took part in a ballot in which 73% voted to strike and 92% for action short of a strike.
– UNISON is among five unions that have asked their CQC members to vote for industrial action. PCS, Prospect, the Royal College of Nursing and Unite are the others.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Care Quality Commission staff to strike in escalation of pay row, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

The article Care Quality Commission staff will work to rule over pay, says UNISON   first appeared on the UNISON National site.