In support of respect, dignity and equality at the Sage Nursing Home

MOTION PASSED BY LONDON FEDERATION OF GREEN PARTIES AGM 24/10/2020 

Title: In support of respect, dignity and equality at the Sage Nursing Home

 

Synopsis:

 

This motion expresses support for care workers at the Sage Nursing Home in Barnet; it highlights the importance and value of the work done by all carers across London; it highlights the unacceptably poor pay and working conditions that care workers face, including at Sage Nursing Home; it welcomes the unionisation of workers at Sage Nursing Home and supports their demands for union recognition, as well as improved pay and working conditions; it resolves to participate in their campaign by taking steps outlined in 7).

 

Motion text:

 

The London Federation of Green Parties:

 

1. Notes with admiration that domestic and care workers at Sage Nursing Home (“Sage”) in Barnet have heroically continued to care for the elderly in the community over the pandemic period, despite facing serious challenges including a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).

 

2.            Notes with alarm that the domestic staff and care assistants at Sage - who are recognised by the government as “key workers” and provide essential services - receive poverty pay rates ranging between £8.72 and £9.60 per hour; that the lower rate stands at nearly 20% below the London Living Wage, and over 40% below the UK’s average hourly wage of £15.

 

3.            Notes that these workers only receive Statutory Sick Pay; that ‘unsociable hours’ payments for weekend work and nights were removed in Spring 2019.

 

4.            Welcomes the rapid unionisation of these workers, the majority of whom identify as women.

 

5.            Supports the workers' call for a voice at work, noting that their union, United Voices of the World (UVW), a grassroots and militant union for precarious and migrant workers, has reached out to Sage management repeatedly since 20th July 2020 requesting that they recognise UVW; that UVW has yet to see a commitment from Sage to reach an agreement on recognition.

 

6.            Stands with workers at Sage and backs their call to be treated with respect; supports their demands for a £12 hourly wage, parity with NHS in-house annual leave and sick pay, and fair pay for ‘unsociable hours’ worked; asserts that this is necessary to ensure that workers can live a dignified life in London.

 

7.            Resolves to participate actively in the campaign for dignity, respect, and equality at Sage by:

 

a.            Addressing a clear message of protest from the London Green Party to the co-chairs of Sage’s board, Adrian Jacobs (adrian@adrianjacobs.co.uk) and Stephen Goldberg (stephen@nmholdings.co.uk).

 

2. Encouraging and facilitating members of London Green Parties in Barnet and elsewhere to participate in campaign actions organised by UVW in support of workers at Sage, by emailing sagenursinghome@uvwunion.org.uk. 

 

3. Instructing the London Green Party Trade Union Liaison Officer, Policy & Campaigns Co-ordinator and other officers to develop ways for Green Party members in London to participate in the UVW ‘Quality Care deserves Quality Pay’ solidarity group.

 

4. Helping to spread the word to women’s groups, health campaigners, union members, local parliamentarians, councillors, community groups and care workers across London.