Union activist and social care worker wins standing ovation at Plaid conference

Politics / 2 October 2026 Plaid leader promises better future for Wales 2 October 2026 Big Tech / 2 October 2026 Charity calls for data centre safeguards 2 October 2026 Policing / 2 October 2026 Sixth person arrested over RAF Fairford plot 2 October 2026 Healthcare / 2 October 2026 NHS begins offering flu jabs to homeless people 2 October 2026 Human Rights / 2 October 2026 Miliband must ‘do more’ to bring Jagtar Johal home, Campaigners urge 2 October 2026 Wales / 2 October 2026 Striking health visitors take dispute to Plaid conference 2 October 2026 DELEGATES rose in a spontaneous ovation for careworker and union activist Edith Dobe as she described her role and explained why Wales needs a national care service.

Unison Cymru took over the main stage at the weekend’s Plaid Cymru conference in Llandudno for a panel discussion on why profit must be removed from adult social care.

Ms Dobe explained how, as a migrant worker, the government’s visa requirements meant care firms exploit the workforce, driving wages and care standards down.

“Winning a fair pay agreement for the whole sector would be a huge step towards a national care service for Wales, which would become the employer for migrants,” Ms Dobe said.

“As a migrant care worker, I know why we were invited to work here: because local workers will not work in these conditions, and if we say no, we face losing our work visa.

“We feel like we are in slavery, and how can I serve Wales and my community when I feel like I am serving a prison sentence?”

Unison Cymru’s Mark Turner told the Star: “We have a responsibility to take the voice of our social care members to the heart of the Welsh government.

“While people may agree with the concept of a national care service, there are different approaches to achieving it.

“Unison Cymru wants a publicly funded and controlled sector which has the profit motive removed, as has been done for children’s care in Wales.”

Social Care Minister Delyth Jewell said: “In lots of ways we are already leading the way and paving the way towards a national care sector.”