Which In Turn…

The Tory led Coalition would like nothing better than to see the London Ambulance Service in particular, and the National Health Service in general, fail over the Winter period.

The more they grind to a halt, the better to blame the staff and their Trade Unions.

Behind Ministers public crocodile tears lay a deep hatred of a Service publicly funded, publicly supported and publicly loved.

As they sign their cheques to the family physician in Harley Street, they cannot understand why all people shouldn’t pay, upfront, for all treatment, all the time, every time.

They starve the NHS of funds (£20 Billion+) which in turn is used to cull thousands of health workers jobs; which in turn forces hospitals and Ambulance Services to struggle; which in turn leads to mistakes and bad practice; which in turn leads to crisis; which in turn leads to bad stories in the press; which in turn leads to questions in the House of Commons; which in turn leads to ministers blaming staff and Unions; which in turn leads to more private sector involvement; which in turn leads to smug and satisfied smiles on the faces of private shareholding Coalition members; which in turn leads to a bit more of the NHS dying in front of our eyes; which in turn leads to more private sector involvement. Job done!

At this time of crisis Trade Unions and staff live in that particular spot that people say is between a rock and a hard place!

We love our jobs and our Service, but we hate the way we are treated.

It is crucial that the National Health Service, including of course Ambulance Services and, for our own interests, the London Ambulance Service, gets through this Winter period. Crucial for staff. Crucial for patients.  Crucial for the people of London and crucial for the LAS.

The question on most people’s lips is: When we are being attacked on all sides, from our pensions and pay to our unsocial hours, why should we lift a finger, or go out of our way, to help?

It is a fair question.

Our pensions have been attacked. Our pay is under attack. Our unsocial hour payments while off sick (while acknowledging the great result in getting employers to think again (see statement below)), is still up for grabs in the future.

Why should we lift a finger?

There will be many who will not. There will be many who will shrug their shoulders after seeing this ‘Winter crisis’ year after year, and walk away.

No one can, or will, blame them.

Ambulance staff have been taken for granted for too long. All staff within the London Ambulance Service do a great job all the year round, and all the year round they give the extra yard. Who can blame them for not wanting to walk that yard again?

But….

This is where that spot between the rock and hard place focuses minds.

Surely a Trade Union pledged to support Public Services cannot walk away. A Trade Union pledged to fight privatisation the best way we can, cannot shrug our shoulders. A Trade Union pledged to protect jobs within the NHS cannot look on from outside as if it does not affect us or our members.

The policies of the Coalition are a bigger threat to our Service (and all other Services) than any manager within the LAS (or other Services) will ever be, no matter how senior they are or whatever particular modernisation agenda they carry around in their back pockets or handbags. 

Not lifting a finger may help the enemies of the Public Sector destroy a bit more of the NHS. I don’t believe anyone within our Service wants to see it fail, or struggle, or collapse. We are not in the business of cutting off our noses to spite our faces!

The LAS does not belong to the Chief Executive. It does not belong to the Trade Union. It belongs to the people of London, but the staff, their Trade Unions and management, are the guardians of its future.

The Union has a responsibility, yes, but so do the Senior Management and Trust Board. With the new appointments announced today (15/11/13) we now have twelve Senior Directors, including the Chief Executive. More Directors, at that level, than I think we have had at any other time, and, as the saying goes, more Directors than you could wave a stick at!

(Unison Director waving sticks will be available soon, once we get them through the Corporate Health & Safety Committee!).

We guard the future of the London Ambulance Service by looking after our patients and looking after our staff.

Looking after our staff - not chasing after our staff. Understanding our staff - not understating our staff. Supporting our staff - not exporting our staff.

We have to get through Winter. We have to survive Winter. We have to break the cycle of Winter Pressures. We have to come through the other end knowing that this year has to be the last year.

While the wolves may not yet be at the door, speeches and plans are being made by white tie and dinner jacketed politicians in City financial halls to unleash them on ‘failing’ public sector trusts. 

It is a difficult time for the National Health Service. It is a difficult time for staff. Let’s now make it difficult for those that want to see us fail.

Support your Union.

____________________

In case people haven’t seen or read it, the following is the Joint Statement by the National Employers and Trade Unions regarding the Annex E dispute.

 “Today, employers and Trade Unions from the ambulance service met to discuss issues around changes to Annex E.

Employers agreed to suspend unsocial hours payment deductions to staff absent due to sickness and trade unions agreed to suspend their industrial action ballots.  We have therefore jointly agreed that:

• Genuine and constructive talks will be held on what unsocial hours arrangements should apply during sickness absence including the potential application of Section 2 and options to change Annex E.
•  Deductions from Annex E payments will cease with immediate effect, with no back dating to 01 September 2013 and no deductions will be processed for October.
•  Monies deducted from Annex E payments to date will be repaid in February.

Terms of Reference will be agreed which set out the scope, key dates and reporting mechanisms for the negotiations, which will conclude by 1 February 2014.

Both sides will put review dates in place to make sure the negotiations are constructive and progress as set out in the Terms of Reference.

As a gesture of goodwill, employers have agreed that if positive progress is made by the 1 December, September deductions will be repaid in December”.

In fairness it has to be said that the London Ambulance Service never made any deductions from staff, therefore, no LAS member of staff is owed money or was disadvantaged.

____________________

Information on all issues can be found elsewhere on our website.

___________________

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.