AGENDA
FOR CHANGE OUT TO BALLOT
UNISON recommends a 'Yes' vote but reservations still
need to be addressed
A Conference of all UNISON's healthcare branches on October
7 has agreed to recommend the government's NHS pay modernisation
system in a ballot of members.
The system - known as Agenda for Change - has been the subject
of detailed negotiation at UK and Scottish level, pilot trials
in England and a 'paper pilot' in West Lothian.
These have thrown up a number of potential problems - and
allowed UNISON to negotiate further to resolve these.
Key developments have been; the uncoupling of unsocial hours
negotiations from the rest of the package; the removal of
the lowest incremental point and the addition of an additional
point at the top of Pay Band 1 plus the introduction of new
pay band 9.
Jim Devine, Scottish Organiser for Health, said. "Delegates
representing one in two Scottish Health Service workers voted
to recommend Agenda for Change to members. Although, some
delegates expressed concern that some members could end up
as losers unless protection is agreed."
"Scottish delegates have asked that we continue our negotiations
with the Scottish Executive to ensure that no health service
worker in Scotland loses out as a result of this modernisation."
In particular, UNISON wants to pursue further work to get
more Admin and Clerical posts out of the need for protection,
to remove some special Health bodies and to pursue the position
of staff in private contractors.
Karen Jennings, UNISON's Head of Health, points out that
doing nothing is not possible. "It's an equal pay system that's
designed to cut out the inequalities and demarcations that
are rife in the current antiquated pay system. It is simply
not an option to carry on with a system that is failing to
recognise or properly reward staff for the work they do."
Ballot papers were dispatched on 13-14 October. If you are
a member working for the NHS, or for a contractor in the health
service, or your pay shadows Whitley conditions and you haven't
received a paper by Monday 18 October - call UNISON Direct
0845355 0845 to request one.
Helpline open hours are 6.00am- Midnight Monday to Friday,
9.00am-4.00pm Saturday - it will be closed on Sundays.
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