Unified response from unions needed to Make Every Child Matter

TUC: Motion 59 Children’s Workforce: Some of the positive aspects of the Every Child Matters Government Agenda were highlighted in this debate, such as increased investment in the workforce for training and development as well as proper focus on career development and maintaining specialist skills in an integrated service.

However there were more gaps in the Agenda that raised issues for the 2.7 million workers in the children’s services sector. Concerns raised ranged from the appalling pay and conditions of our members in that sector to the emphasis on further privatisation of new children’s services.

To move from the slogan ‘Every Child Matters’ to a reality that achieves it will require a unified response from the trade union movement and the motion outlined how this might be achieved.