Care workers are calling in sick because they cannot afford the fuel needed to drive to clients' homes, a union leader has warned, after the average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol exceeded £100 for the first time this week.
Christina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, said staff were leaving the NHS in greater numbers than new recruits, including clinical workers, porters, caterers and cleaners. She accused the Government of 'not having a plan' to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
'Half of local government workers earn less than £25,000 a year. It is now costing care workers £100 to fill up their car. They just cannot afford it,' she said. 'Care workers would rather call in sick because they do not have the money for petrol.'
The union is campaigning for decent pay rises for millions of public sector workers, who she said had faced below-inflation increases despite working through the pandemic. Ms McAnea added that billions could be raised by increasing corporation tax to fund pay rises.
Meanwhile, the AA warned that low-income Britons are being forced to sell their cars due to soaring petrol prices. A survey of 15,000 drivers found 2 per cent of those on low incomes had given up their cars, and 27 per cent were cutting back on food bills. AA President Edmund King called for a further 10p-per-litre cut in fuel duty and a 'fuel price stabiliser'.
