Local council austerity has long denied fair pay to overstretched care staff, but the fight in Lancashire is now against a Reform-led council, reports Michael Lavalette

I was back on the picket lines with Lancashire County Council (LCC) Social Care Support Staff today, and honoured to be given time to speak and offer solidarity at their end-of-picket meeting. The Social Care Support Officers put in a regrade claim in 2022. LCC found that the majority of staff were working above their pay grade, but refused to regrade them.

The support staff used to work alongside social-work staff but now many are being tasked with undertaking social-work jobs. Adult social care at LCC has recently had a terrible review from the Care Quality Council. The CQC noted: ‘Many staff across the service reported low morale, feeling frustrated and demoralised.’ They remain undervalued and underpaid and continue to work beyond their grade and without clear boundaries.

The LCC refuses to listen and refuse to negotiate. The SCSOs have already been on strike for 69 days. They are at the start of the latest round of thirty days continuous strike action. Now Reform at the LCC intend to ‘outsource’ (i.e. privatise) adult care homes. If nothing else, this reveals the true face of Reform.

The SCSOs are on strike 4 October – 2 November. They will be having mass pickets at County Hall (Pitt St) on Tuesday 14 Oct (8am-10am) and on Thursday 16 October (the day of full council) from 10am-12 noon.

Preston Trades Council are asking trades unionists and supporters to join the picket on the 16 October. As an elected councillor, I’ll be with them on the picket lines and speaking for them inside the council chamber.