CARE workers are being told they must sign updated contracts which will strip them of paid breaks according to a leading union.

UNISON has said that care workers who support vulnerable people in Powys have been ‘stripped of their paid break times and must now work longer hours.”

The union accuses private care firm Shaw Healthcare – which has care homes in Ystradgynlais and Pembroke Dock as well as across the UK – of telling employees they must agree to the changes or face being ‘sacked and re-engaged on weaker contracts.’ Some of the alleged changes include no longer having a paid 30-minute break, having their shifts extended by 30 minutes and not being allowed to eat prepared food with residents at mealtimes, instead having to eat ‘leftovers’ if they pay.

UNISON Cymru Wales said representatives tried to negotiate with the company’s executives but were unable to and on Tuesday, April 11, the union wrote an open letter to Powys County Council – where a number of the company’s homes are based – calling for the ‘unacceptable behaviour’ to be addressed.

One of the care workers said: “I can’t begin to tell you the negative emotions I am feeling right now almost to the point where I feel like I can’t go on. The feelings of being bullied, threatened and degraded are paramount at the moment.”

Another said: “In all honesty, we have been held over a barrel. They are targeting the lowest paid and now we’re getting a pay cut – we are paid for 7 hours, but they are asking us to work seven and a half hours. When the company told me I felt sick.

“We know what we mean to the residents, and we always put them first. We gave up seeing our own families to look after them during covid so when, as a parting shot, the company asked us to think of the service, I just didn’t feel like a valued member of staff.”

Abigail Katsande, Shaw Healthcare’s regional operational director commented: “There has not been a pay cut. We have been in consultation for the last three months regarding proposed changes that aligned Powys’ residents’ wellbeing in line with the rest of Shaw, and best care practice in the UK. Previously, employees were paid for lunch breaks but not for hand overs of residents’ care for 15 minutes either side of their daily shifts. Our proposals, to which over 99 per cent of carers have agreed to, introduce this practice as contractual rather than optional. Cooked meals for employees at the care homes are also heavily subsidised by Shaw meaning they pay a small amount per meal, and by comparison lower than the NHS canteen meals.

“Shaw has invested millions of pounds in our employees’ salaries as well as offering a wide range of other benefits designed to make their wages go further and to support their wellbeing. We first adopted the Real Living Wage on the 1st March 2022 which meant that every Shaw employee in Powys was paid 40p per hour more than the National Living Wage. On the 1st April 2023, we implemented the increased Real Living Wage rate of £10.90 per hour (48p more than the National Living Wage) and a flat rate increase of £1 per hour for all other employees. Since becoming the largest employee-owned care provider in the UK in May 2020 each fulltime employee has been awarded £1250 in a series of tax-free bonuses to thank them for their hard work.”

John Byrne, UNISON Powys county branch secretary, said: “Shaw Healthcare is exploiting hardworking staff, who are already low paid. Care workers give everything to support people in our community, but their employer has been bullying them to give up their rights.

“These are local jobs and it is right for the council to investigate and ensure all care workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Ultimately, directly provided council care services are the best guarantee of standards for staff and service users.”

UNISON has written to Julie Morgan MS, deputy minister for social care, stating the care commissioning process has failed and the barrier to improved care services in Wales is the need o generate a profit.