Coronavirus: Brighton care workers demand bank holiday bonus

Unison claims Brighton and Hove City Council is discriminating by paying the bonuses to refuse workers but not the “overwhelmingly female” care workforce.

Unison Brighton and Hove secretary Sue Beatty called the council “unfair” for only paying bank holiday bonuses to Cityclean staff, who she claimed were mostly male.

But the council has responded, saying it took Unison’s concerns seriously and would arrange a meeting with the union.

In a letter to chief executive Geoff Raw, Ms Beatty had called for all council staff to receive bonuses including “overwhelmingly female” care workers.

“The resident service guarantee payment is made to 226 Cityclean staff at a rate of £277 and they are 92 per cent male,” she claimed.

Unison Brighton and Hove secretary Sue Beatty demanded all city council workers receive bank holiday bonuses

“However the care workers employed by the council who are overwhelmingly female do not receive this payment.

“This is unfair and discriminatory and we call upon you to take immediate action to pay our care workers fairly.

“Never has there been a time when it has become so evident just how important care workers are and how vitally needed are their care and skill in serving the citizens of this city. A clap for carers is no longer enough. They want and deserve equality of treatment.”

Brighton and Hove Conservatives leader Councillor Steve Bell called on the council to reassure care workers.

And he suggested it should pay “Covid-19 bonuses” to all key workers in recognition of their efforts.

“I am calling on the Labour administration to urgently respond to the call from Unison and to provide assurance to care workers in the city that they are not being discriminated against,” he said.

“If there is discrimination in workplace practices then this need to be addressed and the administration would have to consider compensation.

“Any such changes should apply to all Brighton and Hove City Council staff.

“We should be valuing all key workers at the moment and not just a subsection.”

Ms Beatty said it was unfair refuse workers are paid bank holiday bonuses but care workers are not

The city council spokesman said a meeting with the union would be arranged and added: “Our social care staff, along with other staff across the council, have been on the front line of the Covid-19 response.

“As an employer we celebrate the contribution our staff are making along with colleagues in the NHS.

“We have a transparent package of allowances that were agreed in 2013 and ensuring the principles of equality for all staff is a core principle of our employment practices. We take any concerns raised seriously.

“Unison has raised some concerns with the council around pay for care staff when they work bank holidays.

“We will be meeting with our union colleagues to understand the concerns that have been raised.”

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