Care workers vote for potential strike action in dispute with council over equal pay

Hundreds of Sunderland care workers have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over equal pay.

More than 300 staff at Sunderland Care and Support (SCAS) voted in favour of industrial action during the indicative ballot, which closed today.

The GMB union will now open a full, legal strike ballot in the coming days.

The women workers have an equal pay claim against Sunderland Council after the authority outsourced the service.

The GMB said this means they were denied access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and paid less than male colleagues doing work over similar value to the council.

Joyce Guthrie, GMB Organiser, said: “This is an historic result in the fight for equal pay.

"The overwhelming mandate for action should be a wake up call to Sunderland's leadership. They can't avoid this issue anymore. Carers are done waiting.

"If Sunderland doesn't step up and make this right, they will be letting down not only hundreds of working women but also those they care for every day.

"The response from the public and the wider council staff to the SCAS campaign has been inspiring.

"On the back of this result GMB will now also ballot the wider council staff for industrial action on equal pay."

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Responding to the indicative vote, a Sunderland City Council spokesperson said: “We remain committed to the agreed negotiating processes that are in place with the union and we continue to engage with its representatives.

“These are complex matters, and it is important that all parties are given the opportunity to work them through the established procedures.

“We are continuing to follow due and legal process and remain focused on reaching a resolution through meaningful dialogue and engagement.”