Concerns have been raised about a Tiree care home after Argyll and Bute Council was accused of bullying staff and spending nearly £600,000 on agency workers.
GMB Scotland has reported that four of their union members employed at the Tighe A Rudha home in Scarinish are off work with stress after a long-running dispute.
The union has claimed this dispute led to accusations of “intimidation” and “victimisation” at the home, which is run by the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (ABHSCP).
GMB is supporting the care workers, who have accused the council of trying to force through changes to their shift patterns three years ago without agreement or consultation.
The union says that since then the home has spent spent £590,000 on agency workers and that it has not invested in external staff and workers claim a “campaign of victimisation” was launched at the same time.
They have said this led to Argyll and Bute Council threatening to “fire and rehire” them on new contracts, extending night shifts from 9.5 to 12 hours.
The council has told The Oban Times that the care home is operated by ABHSCP, which is managed by Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland.
After refusing to agree to working longer night shifts, the staff members say they were not offered extra shifts at the home and that this cost them “thousands” in lost earnings.
Instead, they have claimed the council hired agency staff at £28 per hour to fill the rotas at the home where there is around 16 part-time and four full-time employees.
According to GMB Scotland, the cost of bringing agency staff in to fill the shifts has been more than £550,000 over the last three years.
It has also claimed that during this time the council paid another £36,000 a year to provide accommodation for them on Tiree and another £4,000 to hire cars for them.
GMB Scotland organiser, Ude Adigwe said: “This intimidatory and spiteful behaviour would be unacceptable from any employer, but from a local authority it is beyond the pale.
“Instead of giving available shifts to existing staff members, trained and employed by the council, it is spending a fortune bringing in agency workers. It is a huge and completely unjustifiable waste of taxpayers’ money and a dereliction of the duty of care this council owes its employees.
“The fact that four members of staff are currently off work with stress-related illness should be ringing alarm bells at the very highest levels in this local authority.”
Council managers and union officers met on Wednesday December 12 for talks brokered by conciliation service Acas.
GMB argues that little progress had been made at this meeting and expressed disappointment at the lack of progress over the introduction of longer night shifts.
Following the meeting, Mr Adigwe said: “These changes were introduced without proper discussion or negotiation and the price is now being paid in terms of uncertainty, broken trust and damaged relations between staff and management.
“The huge financial cost to pay for agency staff to come to the island for shifts that should be filled by committed, local staff is another scandal altogether.
“There has been an absolute failure to recognise the potential impact of these changes on loyal and committed staff and, sadly, this meeting did little to suggest that has changed.”
GMB Scotland, which has also met politicians to discuss the situation, said a proposal that staff will receive extra payments until the 12-hour night shifts are introduced will be discussed with members, but does nothing to address the unfair impact of the changes.
The Oban Times contacted Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland for comment, with both directing us to the ABHSP for a response to the claims that have been made.
An ABHSCP spokeswoman said: “Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is deeply concerned about any cultural issues related to allegations of bullying and victimisation.
“We would encourage all staff members to report any details of such allegations through the available channels, such as the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), where they can receive confidential advice, support and services.”
A Tiree Community Council spokesperson said: ‘The care home Tigh a Rudha is a key part of Tiree’s care landscape.
“It allows elderly and vulnerable members of our community to stay on the island in their final years, rather than being sent to the mainland. It is a fantastic resource and is cherished on the island.
“The building is presently being upgraded with a £450,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme.
“We are aware of the high agency costs, and have had a meeting with the Health and Social Care Partnership about this. We hope that the current situation can be resolved as soon as possible.”