Zarah ChoudharyCare workers across the city are asking Sunderland City Council to show them some love and end pay and pension discrimination this Valentine’s Day.
This Valentine’s Day dozens of care workers will gather at Sunderland City Hall to deliver a clear message to council leaders: ‘Treat us with love and stop discriminating against us’.
It will be on 14th February from 12 noon to 1pm at Sunderland City Hall, Plater Way in Sunderland.
Women workers will be delivering large Valentine’s cards to the authority and asking them to pay up.
For almost eighteen months, workers at Sunderland Care And Support (SCAS), have been fighting for equal pay.
Sunderland’s leadership failed to negotiate with GMB and legal claims have now been lodged – but in some cases workers are dying before their cases are heard.
GMB, the only union campaigning for equal pay in Sunderland, will continue with a high-profile, determined campaign against the council.
With Birmingham City Council finally settling their own long running pay dispute, GMB calls on Sunderland Council to do the right thing and deliver on equal pay.
Laura Maughan, organiser at GMB, said: “This Valentine’s Day care workers are asking Sunderland City Council to show them the love they deserve all year round.
“For far too long these lasses have been undervalued and underpaid.
“Letting care workers die while they wait for pay justice is is heartless, immoral and a waste of tax-payers money.
“This is ‘Heart Unions’ week and GMB is making it clear that we will never give up on the battle for equal pay in Sunderland.
“GMB members, although heartbroken at the leadership’s decision, are determined to make a stand.
“We will take case directly to City Hall and tell the leadership it’s time to learn the lessons of Birmingham, and do right by both care workers and the tax payers’ of Sunderland.”
A spokesperson for Sunderland City Council said: “We’re aware of the concerns raised by the GMB on staff terms and conditions, and the council has met union representatives.
“We are continuing to follow due and legal process.
“All parties, including the GMB, have agreed a process to take these issues forward.
“There have been suggestions that the council has failed to negotiate, these are completely untrue.
“We are committed to this process and in working together to conclude this, while recognising the complexity of the matters.”
