Unions oppose NHS regional pay
HEALTH staff have voted against proposals for pay and conditions to be fixed through a regional consortium.
The union Unite has gathered feedback from its NHS members about the proposals to set up the organisation to set pay and terms for staff across the South West, which includes Bristol's hospitals.
Head of health at the union Rachael Maskell said that of the thousands of members who have given their feedback on the South West Pay, Terms and Conditions Consortium, "thousands" had rejected it.
As previously reported in The Post, some unions believe the organisation would represent something of a pay cartel and fear it could lead to health trusts struggling to recruit or retain staff, and that proposals for performance-related pay and a withdrawal of anti-social hours payments were affecting morale.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
Unite's national health committee has now decided to launch a national fight back campaign to protect pay, and terms and conditions. Ms Maskell said: "Our members have overwhelmingly rejected the proposed changes to Agenda For Change.
"We note that the NHS Employers has said that these changes won't be imposed, if unions don't sign up."
She said that while there was not a traditional ballot of members on their approach to the consortium there has been voting at meetings and through consultations.
"The number of people supporting it can be counted on a few fingers rather than the thousands who reject it," she said.
She added that asking staff to accept performance-related pay was like asking "a turkey to vote for Christmas".
The consortium's aim is to provide "greater security for health services and staff" with an "affordable pay, terms and conditions system that recognises and rewards performance, promotes greater productivity and creates a flexible workforce".
Comments