Care workers employed by The Sidney and Ruza Last Foundation at the Yehoshua Freshwater Centre (Sage Nursing Home) in Golders Green will receive London Living Wage after a nearly year-long campaign over “poverty pay” and poor working conditions.

In February Barnet Post reported on a campaign led by United Voices of the World Union members Andrene and Bile who said that carers “are treated as disposable”. They told the Post that carers have important jobs that should be materially compensated. No workers, they said, should have to make a choice between receiving wages for necessities or staying at home when they are ill.

After months of campaigning and negotiations, domestic and maintenance staff will now receive a minimum pay rise of 11% and all other staff a 5% wage increase.

On October 21st striking staff were joined by Labour MP for Middlesbrough Andy Mcdonald who tweeted: “I’m astounded by the way they’ve been treated by Sage nursing home, despite the dedication they’ve shown to those in the care. They have my wholehearted support in demanding proper sick pay and wages they can live on.”

Following the strike, those protesting took a bus to the central London offices of Sage trustee Ben- zion Shalom Elizer Freshwater, where they entered the foyer of Freshwater House to deliver a letter detailing their demands.

Upon hearing the news that their campaign had worked Bile, a senior care worker at Sage and UVW executive committee member, said: “We went above and beyond to stand for what we deserve. We know that none of us acting alone can achieve success and we understand that there is still a way to go. We need to correct the legacy of past injustice and insist upon the will to change. Let there be work, bread, water, and water for all!”