Rest Breaks – Rosters – Annual Leave!
The Perfect Ambulance Holy Trinity!
It is rumoured that Albert Einstein moved on to write The Theory Of Relativity because he found it easier to do than trying to solve the Ambulance Holy Trinity!
The famous Bletchley Park World War Two code breakers cracked The Enigma Cipher Machine while pulling their hair out during meetings regarding squaring this Trinity Triangle!
Ambulance Service operational staff will know how rare it is to have a good, workable, fair policy on just one of these conundrums, never mind all three of them; and every Ambulance Trade Union negotiator will have those three issues branded with red hot irons deep into their brains until the day they go to the final Stand By Point in the sky!
They are easy yet difficult – simple yet complicated!
I mention this because we are about to embark (once again) within the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to find the Holy Grail.
A bulletin from LAS Chief Executive Ann Radmore has been sent to all staff (Wednesday 13th February 2013) explaining the changes needed to improve patient care. This was after delivering a presentation to the Trade Union Staff Side.
Click here to read the Chief Executive Bulletin – Feb 2013
The background context to this is the financial situation facing all health trusts in general, and the funding cuts and rising demand in LAS in particular.
As can be seen within the bulletin, Rest Breaks, Rosters and Annual Leave are areas that will be ‘on the table’ for change.
This blog posting is just to inform staff that the Union got the bulletin at the same time as everyone else. Nothing is agreed, signed or sealed!
Until we get and see the details of any proposals we cannot enter into any discussion. When discussions do start, members and staff will be involved at all levels.
The Holy Trinity is a difficult nut to crack and any negotiations will be difficult. There is no easy fix or overnight solution.
UNISON also wants to see changes. These changes may not be what Senior Management want, but negotiation is a two-way thing. Give and take, not just take.
We believe our members have done a fantastic job in delivering a great Service to the people of London during a time of incredible stress and pressure. The reward for that should be improvements to work-life balance and not a deterioration.Â
UNISON supports Public Services. We support the London Ambulance Service. We support staff. We will enter into negotiations for change and improvements in good faith.
A successful Public Sector Ambulance Service is in the interest of us all, public and staff alike.
But a successful Public Sector Ambulance Service, honestly caring for, and supporting its’ staff, is even better.
Let’s all strive for this Service.
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Information of all issues can be found elsewhere on our website.
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If you are reading this, work for the London Ambulance Service or are eligible to join, and are not yet a member of UNISON Join Today!
 I Am Frontline You Are Frontline We Are All Frontline
We are stronger together.
Eric Roberts
Branch Secretary.
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