Mental health social workers escalate strike action

Cumbrian mental health social workers are set to strike for two weeks

Mental health social workers are set to strike for two weeks from 24 April in protest at how their jobs are graded.

Cumberland Council’s urgent care team carries out mental health assessments and makes decisions on whether people need to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

A GMB official said the team’s dedication and expertise “cannot be overstated”.

The local authority said it will have “emergency cover” during the strike and will work with the NHS to ensure support for residents.

The strikes will start at 09:00 GMT on 24 April and run until 09:00 on 8 May.

It follows a 48-hour strike and 72-hour strike by workers in March.

GMB organiser Fran Robson said: “It’s high time that Cumberland Council recognises our members’ worth and allows fair regrading of their role.

"Our members are left with no choice but to escalate their dispute."

Workers are currently paid between £48,474 and £49,498 a year, the council said.

The Labour-led authority said the role was regraded in 2019 and a request to regrade again in 2022 was turned down because there had been “no significant changes".

A council spokesperson said several approved mental health professionals, who are not part of the industrial action, will provide cover during the strike.