TSSA Conference backs National Care Service

Delegates at the annual TSSA Conference have called for the implementation of a National Care Service, free at the point of use, without means testing and funded through general taxation.

The Conference of the transport and travel union - meeting in Birmingham and online because of the Covid pandemic - noted the Labour party’s commitment to such a Service and pledged to campaign in support of the policy.

The full motion read: ‘That this Conference notes that the Labour Party has made a commitment to a National Care Service. Conference believes that such a service, working in partnership with the NHS, will ensure that care is for people, not profit.

"This service should be funded like the NHS through general taxation, free at the point of use and without means testing. In addition, this new service should be entirely in the public sector employing qualified, appropriately supervised, fairly paid and organized staff.

"Conference instructs the EC to campaign in support of this policy.’

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes said: “I’m really pleased our union is leading from the front on the vital issue of social care.

“It’s no secret that we have a social care crisis, and our motion could not be clearer - we urgently need a National Care Service working alongside our NHS free to all and fully run by the public sector.

“The only fair and progressive way forward, when it comes to funding social care and dealing with the backlog in our NHS post-pandemic, is through general taxation. But that means a wealth tax rather than a deeply unfair tax on workers which Boris Johnson has proposed in a bid to protect the interests of the few over the many.

“Our union on this matter, as on all others, is resolved to put people before profit.”

ENDS