Health Conferences pledge to fight cuts and pay caps

Cabinet Secretary Nicola Sturgeon endorsed UNISON’s Public Works campaign during her visit to the UNISON Scottish Health Conference in Glasgow on 19 April. She acknowledged the “fundamental challenges in public expenditure over the next few years” and stressed her continued support for the ‘partnership’ model of industrial relations in NHS Scotland as the “best hope to navigate through the tough times”.

Sandra Dee Masson (Grampian) warned against “the dilution of quality services in search of cheaper staffing models” while speaking to a successful motion for UK Conference on ‘Skill Mix’.

Gordon McKay of Ayrshire & Arran NHS branch said there would be a “robust industrial response” to any future UK or Scottish Government attempts to impose a unilateral pay cap or pay freeze on NHS workers.

Marie Garrity (Greater Glasgow & Clyde branch) made an impassioned plea for a successful outcome to UK negotiations of on-call payments, saying: “It’s time for agreement on a fair system for all.”

Ewing Hope (Ayrshire & Arran) called for an end to the abuse of fixed term contracts in NHS Scotland. These were “damaging to individuals and to career progression,” he said.

UK Conference

At the UK Health Conference in Brighton, national chair and Lanarkshire Health’s Lilian Macer set out the challenges facing workers in the NHS. “One thing that health workers have in common throughout the UK is a massive concern about the prospect of public services cuts,” she said.

Billions were already coming out of health spending in the UK, in what so-called ‘efficiency savings’, she argued, “but as we all know this means cuts.”

She condemned the irresponsibility of speculators and bankers which had caused the economic crisis “what they have achieved is to privatise the profits and socialise the debt.”

Pay policy 2011: Conference agreed to vigorously oppose calls for pay freezes or for local or regional pay undermining the national agreement.

Gordon McKay, for the NEC, said: “The pledge to cap basic pay at 1% or to freeze pay for those earning under £18k is unjustified.

“The NHS Pay Review Body determines pay based upon evidence. If Governments unilaterally and unfairly cap or freeze pay, they should not be surprised if there is a robust reaction from staff and their trade unions next year.”

Conference agreed to mount a high profile campaign in opposition to the public sector pay freeze among branches, regions and nations; and begin preparatory work for a potential ballot on industrial action, including strike action, of all members covered by Agenda for Change.

Reports: John Gallacher

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