UNISON calls for last ditch talks to avoid industrial action in Great Western Ambulance Trust
(21/01/2011) Branch members in Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust have given their employer notice that they intend to take industrial action unless significant progress is made towards resolving their long-standing dispute.
The dispute centres on a core of issues which ambulance crew members say is compromising their ability to provide a high quality and efficient 999 response service. UNISON remains committed to resolving these issues through negotiation, and has reassured the trust that it remains open to further discussions.
For full details and contacts, see the press release from the UNISON South West Region here: UNISON GWAS Press Release
GWAS Industrial dispute update
At the last scheduled negotiation meeting between UNISON and GWAS on Friday 14th January, the trust was asked to prepare a "package" of measures to resolve the issues raised by the industrial dispute.
This was supplied to UNISON on Tuesday 18th January and was considered in great detail by the UNISON negotiating team in a long meeting lasting until 2200hrs.
The trust's package consists of seven proposals. We have attached the document so that our members can see for themselves what the trust is offering. We have also attached a document with further information to help you interpret the proposals.
UNISON believes that the package falls short of what our members deserve. The trust has not offered sufficient movement to solve the industrial dispute. As a result we cannot recommend the proposals to our members. However we would like to hear what YOU have to say. Please study the attached documents and email your reaction to yourvoice@unison-greatwestern.co.uk. What would be required to make these proposals acceptable to YOU?
What has happened since the industrial action ballot?
We have delayed issuing notice for over three weeks since the overwhelming ballot result supporting industrial action. However the trust's package of proposals still falls short of what UNISON thinks is required to address the industrial dispute.
As a result of the trust's position, we are left with no choice but to commence industrial action. Official notification will be issued shortly.
We will make sure that all members are kept informed of developments via email - please keep your email inbox clear - and via the website at www.unison-greatwestern.co.uk.
You will receive detailed instructions on how to participate in industrial action. Until then please continue to work normally.
On behalf of
The Branch Executive
UNISON Great Western Ambulance Branch
GWAS UNISON branch get clear mandate for industrial action
GWAS branch of UNISON balloted their members for industrial action following their Trust's actions during an A&E redesign project. The actions of GWAS management left the branch with little option but to ballot their members.
Following a good return their front line members voted 93% in favour of taking action. SWAMB have shown support to their neighbours and will continue to work closely with them whilst they try and overcome the problems facing their members.
The branch are meeting with ACAS and the Trust to try and head off possible strike action.
GWAS Ambulance crews balloted over safety worries
The union that represents ambulance crews in Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire is balloting its members from today on industrial action due to safety and welfare concerns about sweeping changes being implemented by Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
In a preliminary survey, 97% of UNISON members said they did not have confidence in the changes. The results of the preliminary survey were shared with the trust on 12th November but since then GWAS has only met with UNISON representatives once, on 22nd November.
UNISON Steward and paramedic Clinical Team Leader from Avon, Chris Hewitt said
"One of the most important aspects of this dispute is the way that managers have failed to respond to ambulance crews raising the alarm over safety and welfare issues that affect our patients and colleagues. 97% per cent of our members support our position, so it is extremely disappointing that managers have only arranged to meet us once. However they did find time to schedule twenty meetings intended to terminate the employment of frontline staff. With so much at stake, we have no choice but to ballot our members in order to focus the attention of the executive directors on these important concerns."
More details of the changes have been emerging, including the "slimming down" of ambulance cover at non-peak times in Weston-super-Mare, Bristol, Soundwell, Keynsham, Gloucester and Bath, Midsomer Norton and Trowbridge.
It has also been revealed that dozens of ambulance workers in Bath, Keynsham and Stroud face pay cuts of between £850 and £1200 per annum, which had previously been denied in the press by GWAS spokesmen.
UNISON's acting branch secretary and paramedic from Wiltshire Dan Tucker said:
"Our preliminary survey shows that 97% of our members have lost confidence in the management of GWAS. GWAS should be working to decrease the pressure on ambulance crews in order to reduce the risks of making mistakes, especially in adverse environments, and therefore improve patient care.
This is a critical situation. Ambulance crews are flagging up serious safety concerns but we are being ignored by managers more interested in steam rolling unproven and dangerous changes to shift times and rest breaks. Meanwhile, the training of our Emergency Care Assistants, a vital part of our ambulance crews, is the shortest and lowest level since the 1980s and the trust is unwilling to upskill them.
Our community will be asking what's happening to the ambulance service, and wondering if the loss of another chief executive shows that the future of GWAS is in jeopardy."
The changes affect shift patterns and shift times, and remove ambulance crews' right to two unpaid rest breaks in shifts that last a minimum of 12-hours.
UNISON branch officer Shane Clark from Gloucestershire said:
"GWAS managers have been saying that these changes are a good thing for patients but how can that be when ambulance crews have been raising the alarm over unsafe working practices? We want our patients to get the best possible care from ambulance crews. It is not acceptable for crews to be forced to report for duty without adequate rest before shifts, nor for crews to be driving on blue lights for long shifts without rest breaks. The employers must listen to our members' concerns."
In addition a considerable number of staff, mostly women, who have childcare responsibilities, have had their long standing working arrangements changed without their consent and virtually no notice. Some of those staff have been threatened with dismissal if they do not sign new contracts and those who cannot comply with the changes are now under notice of dismissal. No Equalities Impact Assessment was done before the changes were implemented for most staff and what has been done fails to consider the effects on different groups of staff. This is a breach of the Trust's statutory duties.
The Trust have refused to hear the individual and collective grievances submitted by members, in breach of Trust policy and the ACAS code.
On top of all this, performance of the A&E service has already started to suffer as a result of these badly thought out changes yet the Trust refuses to revert back to long established working arrangements that actually worked when properly resourced.
Simon Newell, UNISON's Regional Organiser said
"One young mother who is currently on maternity leave is now expected to be able to work on every day of the week over a 5 week rota when she currently only has childcare provision for the 2 fixed days per week she is currently contracted to work. This is despite the trust saying it operates family friendly employment practices. Hers is only one a growing number of horrendous stories of discriminatory treatment which we are referring to our lawyers. When we have raised our concerns with the Trust one senior Trust Manager has said "you cant play premier league football if you cant work on Saturdays". With that attitude it looks likely dedicated ambulance crews will soon have to take industrial action to protect themselves and their colleagues, and to ensure the service doesn't loose experienced staff, who try to a provide premier service, no matter what days they work".
Notes for editors:
Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides the emergency ambulance service for the 2.2 million people of Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. GWAS also provides the majority of non-emergency patient transport services in the region and operates the out-of-hours doctor service in Gloucestershire.
UNISON, the public sector union, represents over 800 staff working for Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Please visit
www.unison-greatwestern.co.uk for more information.
The preliminary consultative survey was sent to all affected members. The questionnaire was not a formal ballot for strike action, but it indicates what the results of an industrial action ballot might be. 97% of responses said they had no confidence in GWAS management and 96% said that they would be prepared to take some form of industrial action short of strike action. 94% said that, if necessary, they would vote to support strike action.
The trade dispute affects almost 600 UNISON members working in the GWAS Accident and Emergency operation. It does not affect 999 control room or call centre staff, nor any other branch of GWAS service provision.
In December 2006, ambulance staff came within days of two four-hour walk outs over an estimated £5,000,000 of salary entitlements that were being withheld by GWAS. The dispute was settled amicably after negotiations.
Since its creation on 1st April 2006, GWAS has been run by four Chief Executives: John Parkinson (acting), Tim Lynch (resigned September 2008), Anthony Marsh (interim) and David Whiting (resignation submitted November 2010). The impending vacancy is currently being advertised.
For more information, please contact
Chris Hewett
Steward and paramedic
UNISON Great Western Ambulance Branch
chris.hewett@unison-greatwestern.co.uk
07917 246394
or
Simon Newell
Regional Organiser
UNISON South West Region
s.newell@unison.co.uk
Office 0117 968 9479
BlackBerry 07904 342163
