In the Charles Bronson 1983 film ’10 to Midnight’ a few of the lines go:Â “You can’t punish me. I’m sick. They can’t punish me for being sick. All you can do is lock me up. But not forever.One day I’ll get out. One day I’ll get out”
Well Charlie boy, welcome to the 2013 ambulance world (one day I’ll get out!).
The London Ambulance Service today (30th August 2013) followed all other English ambulance services in issuing a bulletin to staff informing them that they were going to impose deduction of Unsocial Hour Payments in times of sickness absence.
UNISON, along with other trade unions within the ambulance service have consistantly argued that (this is where technical jargon comes in – sorry)Â Section 14 (a) does not not cover those staff receiving unsocial hour payments under Annex E of the Agenda for Change (AfC) National Agreement.
To explain, this is what I wrote in my Blog posting ‘Have A Break – Have A Mish Mash’ on 2nd July 2013:
“We have been having meetings on a National level within the Joint National Staff Council.
These talks have been concentrated on Annex E and the recent changes to Agenda for Change.
In simple terms the NHS Employers and Ambulance Service Employers take the view that the recent change to the AfC withdrawing Unsocial Hour Payments while off sick also applies to health staff covered by Annex E (staff in Ambulance Services are covered by Annex E within the National Handbook).
UNISON and other Unions involved do not believe that these deductions while off sick apply to staff under Annex E.
NHSÂ Employers think it applies – We do not.
A proposal regarding how this will work has been given to the Unions.
We are to ballot those members working under Annex E for their views.
More information will be sent out soon.
The following is a statement sent from the Union at national level:
“As you know, the impact of the recent Agenda for Change changes on Annex E sickness payments has been the subject of contention!  UNISON’s position has been that the changes that were made to sickness payments (i.e. removing unsocial hours payments) do not have an automatic impact on Annex E, but the employers disagree with this. They maintain that the principle of removing unsocial hours for periods of sickness absence should apply to staff paid under Annex E, and have proposed a methodology for how this deduction could be made.  Â
UNISON, along with other staff side unions, does not agree that this deduction can happen automatically but has agreed to consult members on the proposal. Your branch will be talking to you over the next few weeks about what the employers have proposed and what this could mean for you, and will be asking you to vote on whether you accept or reject”
The Consultative Ballot ended on 23rd August 2013 and the London Ambulance Service was written to on 28th August 2013 informing them of the results.
On a national level, UNISON ambulance members in England voted by 94% to reject the proposals.
London Ambulance UNISON members voted by 98.38% to reject the proposals. Furthermore, London Ambulance UNISON members voted by 88.94% to be willing to take industrial action if needed.
In a press release sent out by the National Staff Council Trade Unions on 28th August 2013, UNISON’s Christina McAnea (Chair of NHS Staff Council) said:
“The danger now is that employers impose these changes without agreement, which in our view would be unlawful and would force our members to act. We’re all keen to avoid disruption of 999 services to the public, but the employers need to take note of the strong reaction from members to this proposed cut and not risk going ahead without consent.â€
The London Ambulance Service Bulletin (just two days after this press release), along with all other English ambulance services’ bulletins, shows just how much they took ‘note of the strong reaction from members’.
Listening into Action it is not!
I have today (30th August 2013)Â lodged a formal dispute with the London Ambulance Service on behalf of both Unions within the Service (UNISON and GMB) in my position as Trade Union Staff Side Secretary.
This is a national issue and we are now part of a national dispute.
Further information and advice will be given in due course.
Support Your Union.
 ____________________
Eric Roberts
Branch SecretaryÂ
