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Carmarthenshire CC has dismissed claims that it plans to privatise local homecare services. Spokesmen for the GMB and TGWU claimed the council was taking a ‘back-door move' to privatise the care services, and they organised a number of demonstrations in protest. But social services director, Bruce McLernon, said the independent sector had an important role to play in meeting the increasing care demands of Carmarthenshire residents. However, GMB regional organiser, Jeff Burns, said Mr McLernon had failed to give assurances to county care staff that the in-house service organisation would retain its share of the care packages, and had declined to give union leaders an indication of how much of the care service was likely to be transferred to the private sector. ‘Dress it up whichever way you like, this is privatisation of the care service by the back door,' said Mr Burns. ‘The council wants a bigger, but cheaper and nastier service than that currently provided. Carers have made substantial sacrifices to their conditions of employment over many years. This is an act of betrayal by the council.'. Mr McLernon rejected the union claims and said none of the staff who worked for the in-house service would lose their jobs. And he promised that standards and working conditions ‘will remain the same'. ‘It is important to stress that the service people receive will not change, it may simply be provided by another organisation, and more people will benefit,' he added. A council spokesperson pointed out that Carmarthenshire CC provided 75% of its care homes with services provided by its employees in comparison with the average for the rest of Wales, which stood at around 50%.

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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

County rejects care 'privatisation' claim

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