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UNISONdirect: 0845 355 0845 |
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Date: April 2003
To all LAS Unison members.
Dear Member,
Agenda for Change
I am writing to update you on the proposals regarding Agenda for Change. As you know Agenda for Change is the most fundamental change to our terms and conditions since the founding of the NHS.
Unison believes these changes will benefit staff within the LAS, but there are still a few concerns that we need to explore. The proposals are unclear on a number of issues that affect control staff, administration staff as well as operational staff and managers.
These issues of concern are not insurmountable but need further investigation and negotiation. LAS Unison is preparing to do that.
Station and workplace representatives will be fully involved throughout. We will also be arranging station/workplace meetings as well as Sector and particular staff group meetings (managers etc).
Control Room members and representatives will be fully involved in meetings that will deal with issues that are specific to CAC.
This is a major change in our conditions at work and Unison wants as many members as possible to be part of the consultation process.
The delegates at Unison’s special conference (April 8th) voted to recommend a two stage approach which gives Unison members two votes in two separate ballots. The first ballot which will be held in May will be recommending members to vote ‘yes’ to a three year 10% pay deal and also agree for 12 health trusts (including two ambulance trusts) to test and pilot the proposals. These are the ‘early implementers’. Unison will be fully involved with all the early implementer sites. A positive outcome in the first ballot would mean that Unison could remain in the process, allowing us to monitor and evaluate the impact of the new system. We would be able to go forward with early implementers, to identify key areas of concern and then to get back into negotiations to resolve problems.
You are not being asked in the first ballot to accept Agenda for Change, but to vote ‘yes’ to test the system.
The second ballot, to be held in 2004, will take place after the early implementers have finished the pilot and the outcome is known. With all the information in front of us, only then can we make a clear, informed decision.
That second ballot is the time that we can vote to accept Agenda for Change.
So, although there are some concerns and some issues still to be resolved, LAS Unison is confident, with your help and support, we can address them.
Unison’s two ballot approach is the fair, common-sense way forward so that all Unison members are protected.
The gains for LAS staff will only come if we get a yes vote in the first ballot, without that, no one will gain, and we will be stuck with the outdated, unfair pay system we have now.
The Unison Health Service Group Executive and LAS Unison Branch Committee are recommending that you vote ‘yes’ in the first ballot so that we can test the system before the final decision.
If you have access to the internet you can find more information on: http://www.unison.org.uk/healthcare/ambulance/index.asp
Best wishes
Eric Roberts Branch Secretary.
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