ENABLE carers across Central Belt walk out in pay row
The action begins in East Renfrewshire today before being rolled out across other parts of the country.
Last updated 29th May 2025
Care workers for ENABLE Scotland are walking out in the first of five days of strike action in a row over pay.
The action is starting in East Renfrewshire this morning before taking place in four other regions across the country including Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
UNISON Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said: “The last thing care workers want to do is strike. It's been a very difficult decision for them.
"But promises of pay increases made by government ministers have been broken and Enable workers' pay has worsened.
“The care sector is in crisis and the responsibility for that lies squarely with the Scottish government.
"Until care staff are valued properly and paid fairly, the sector will never have the workforce it needs.”
Further strike action is planned on Tuesday June 3, Friday June 6, Tuesday June 10 and Thursday June 12.
UNISON member and personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years Anna Baird said: “I love my job and the people I support, that’s why this decision was so hard. But we’re at breaking point.
“We’ve been made promises for years, but nothing changes. Our pay doesn’t reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We’re just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.”
An Enable spokesperson said: “Enable is disappointed by the decision to strike, but we are working positively with UNISON on our shared principle of minimising the adverse impact of this action on the people we support.
"Significantly enhanced pay beyond the real living wage is entirely dependent on external funding.
"Enable has worked with UNISON to advance Fair Work across the social care sector for a number of years, and we would welcome a national pay settlement for the charity sector social care workforce which is on a par with pay deals for care workers in the public sector.”