UNISON Demonstration Against Cuts to Bryson Care Workers’ Terms & Conditions in the North West

UNISON the largest Trade Union for health and social care workers in Northern Ireland will be holding a demonstration today at Bryson Care Offices in Derry to protest against the company’s plans to reduce the terms and conditions of employment of their domiciliary/homecare workforce. The demonstration will commence at 1pm at Bryson Care’s Offices, Gortfoyle House, Spencer Road, Derry.

Bryson Care is part of the larger Bryson Charitable Group and provides domiciliary care services across Northern Ireland.  In recent months the company was successful in securing a contract with the Western Health and Social Care Trust to provide domiciliary care services to people across the Trust geographical area.  UNISON has learned that Bryson Care are now planning to overhaul the terms and conditions of their domiciliary care workforce by reducing sickness and maternity benefits, mileage allowances and, enhanced rates of pay for working bank holidays and weekends.

Joe McCusker, UNISON Regional Organiser, speaking on Bryson Care’s plans says, “After securing a lucrative 5 year contract with the Western Health Trust, Bryson Care are now turning their attention to attacking the terms and conditions of employment of their domiciliary care workforce.  These home care workers who provide an invaluable frontline service to the most vulnerable in our society feel totally undervalued and demoralised by Bryson Care’s plans to cut their terms and conditions of employment. This will have a devastating impact on the workers who are already finding it difficult to make ends meet.”  Mr. McCusker adds, “what is particularly disconcerting – with women making up over 90% of their domiciliary care workers - is the company’s plans to reduce maternity benefits to the minimum statutory level.  This represents a specific attack on women workers.”

UNISON is calling on Bryson Care to withdraw their plans to cut the domiciliary care workers terms and conditions of employment and to enter into dialogue with the workers Trade Union - UNISON.

UNISON has also written to the Western Health Trust as the public body who has contracted out the domiciliary service to Bryson Care, raising concerns with how these workers are being treated in providing a service to Trust clients.

Members of the public and other interested groups are also welcome to attend the demonstration today.

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For further information please contact:  Joe McCusker , Regional Organiser  on 07775 856286 or the UNISON Regional Centre, Belfast on 028 90 270190