This week, I stood on the picket line alongside local Social Care Support Officers (SCSOs) and Unison members to show my support for their ongoing dispute with Conservative-controlled Lancashire County Council.

These dedicated workers, who include Hearing Impairment Officers, play an essential role in Lancashire’s social care system. They work tirelessly alongside social workers to conduct social care assessments and reviews, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our community receive the support they need.

Despite the crucial nature of their work, SCSOs constantly find themselves working far beyond their original grade, with excessive burnout and high staff turnover. They go the extra mile to deliver the best possible outcomes for vulnerable people in Lancashire, but their goodwill is running out.

Due to the lack of being recognised for their evolving responsibilities, through UNISON an overwhelming 90% of local SCSO members voted in favour of strike action to bring Lancashire County Council to the table.

These workers know their jobs have fundamentally changed since they were first created. They are dealing with increasingly complex cases and carrying out work that should warrant a fairer reward. Yet, despite two years of efforts to have their jobs reassessed, Lancashire County Council continues to ignore their legitimate concerns.

I am proud to stand in solidarity with SCSOs and UNISON during this battle for fair treatment and better terms and conditions.