The Fight for Birmingham Pay Justice

31 January

First confirmed case of Covid in the UK.

23 March

Beginning of the first nationwide Covid lockdown

23 April

First GMB Virtual Rally for Carers

GMB hosts an online rally for care workers, calling for PPE and proper sick pay.

1 June

The Government stops funding sick pay for private and charity care sector providers.

12 September

GMB surveys our membership in the care sector about pay, and the results are clear.

GMB members in the care sector demanded that the union campaigns for proper sick pay.

1 November

GMB launches the Sick of SSP campaign, calling for full sick pay for care sector workers.

28 November

28 November

800 signatures are gathered on the Sick Pay Day of Action and members show support for the campaign by wearing stickers and taking photos.

3 January

Signatures are presented to the company in pay talks, but the company is reluctant to pay sick pay.

17 January

HC-One and care activists deliver thousands of signatures to their employer on delivery day

28 January

After the public show of delivery – HC-One offers Company Sick Pay – a HUGE win for GMB members

19 March

Members in HC-One voted for Company Sick Pay- a HUGE WIN – 19,000 workers now have access to some company sick pay when they are ill.

15 May

GMB Reps in HC-One hold events in Mental Health Awareness week and begin work to improve mental health in the company

10 June

GMB National Care Committee hold events at GMB Congress to spread the word of the success of the Sick of SSP campaign and talk about their experiences of Covid.

10 September

GMB members give instructions to go back to the company to improve sick pay after annual pay consultation.

30 September

Sick of SSP GOES GLOBAL! Jacqueline Kitchen – HC-One Rep gives a speech in Budapest to care sector workers from around the world on the Sick of SSP campaign.

20 November

Day of Action in HC-One – GMB members fill in Fit Notes to show HC-One they want an improvement to Company Sick Pay rates.

29 December

GMB submits a consultation to the government for raising the levels of Statutory Sick Pay – care sector members voices are the main focus of the paper.

Making Work Pay - Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay

14 January

GMB Members deliver over 2,500 completed campaign Sick Notes to HC-One in time for pay negotiations.

12 February

HC-One signs the Dying to Work Charter after negotiations with GMB Reps.

The Dying to Work charter gives guarantees that the employer will not dismiss a worker on capability if they become terminally ill – ensuring that death in service benefits are maintained for family members.

26 February

National Care Committee members met with top civil servants to discuss care sector issues from the Fair Pay Agreement, to pensions, to violence and harassment in the workplace.

GMB presented that sick pay must be included in the Fair Pay Agreement and that only 100% sick pay would be acceptable.

3 March

Members vote on pay and raising sick pay rates in HC-One.

13 March

National Care Committee members met with Stephen Kinnock, Minister for Social Care.

GMB presented that sick pay must be included in the Fair Pay Agreement – the proposed new rate of 80% sick pay is welcome but only full sick pay would be acceptable for care sector workers.