Southern Cross redundancies - UNISON response 08/06/2011

UNISON the UK's largest union, today condemned bosses at Southern Cross for a lack of care for residents, as 3000 job losses were announced at the company.

The union said the losses were a tragedy for residents and staff, and condemned the dodgy accounting that has sparked the funding crisis at the company.

Earlier today, UNISON released a report into the care industry, warning that Southern Cross was not the only care provider on the brink of collapse.

The report revealed that Four Seasons, the second biggest care provider is also in severe financial difficulties. If both Southern Cross and Four Seasons were to collapse, around 1,150 nursing and residential care homes would be at risk of closure, affecting nearly 50,000 vulnerable people and their families and hitting over 60,000 staff.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:

"This is another nail in the coffin for privatisation. Whilst big city backers and company bosses have made off with tens of millions of pounds, vulnerable elderly people and care staff are paying the price. Losing your job in this economic downturn is a tragedy, and for elderly people to have the huge worry of losing their homes is a disgrace.

"The care sector is hugely labour intensive, and there is no doubt that job losses on this scale will mean elderly people in Southern Cross homes get a lower standard of care and some homes may be at risk of closure.

"The government must step in to protect residents and staff by getting to grips with Southern Cross. What about clawing money back from the multi-millionaire company bosses and backers who made millions by selling off the companies building stock and leasing it back?"