Update on UNISON news from the branch.

Pensions

The pension negotiations are still on going and we are waiting for announcements from the government. Our branch pensions champions will be holding station meetings across the Trust in September and it would be great for members to come along and find out what is happening nationally and locally in response to the government proposals. I'm sure you have all got burning questions so please keep an eye on local notice boards and our website for further updates. Please see the main UNISON website for up to date pension bulletins http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions

The Health and Social Care Bill

If you thought that this bill had gone away, think again! This bill is likely to be brought before the House of Commons on 6th & 7th of September when they reconvene following summer recess. The cynical amongst you may see this as not giving the electorate the time to approach their MPs to get the debate challenged and democratic. If you think like this then you may also believe that the listening exercises were staged and organised to prevent debate and challenge. Shame on you!

There is a UNISON fact sheet which points out UNISON's main objections to what is happening. http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/18878.pdf

We will be looking to hold a candle lit vigil at our branch exec on 7th September in Exeter to protest about the hearing of the bill and if you wish to join in we will advertise this on our website. Please look at the fact sheets for ways to help including writing to your MP or organising something in your area.

National Recruitment and Retention Premia

We wanted to share some good news with you about this payment. Our vehicle workshop staffs have received a payment under agenda for change to bring their salary up to what an auto technician would receive in the private industry. Without this payment we would lose valuable staff, skills and experience to the private sector. This was recently brought to an end nationally which led the branch to negotiate locally with the Trust and set up a local recruitment and retention premia. I am pleased to announce that the Trust have agreed a local payment in line with the old national payment which reflects the local job market. We are pleased that these negotiations went well and a big thank you to our workplace representative, David Austin, for all his hard work.

Trust consultation on protection arrangements

We have given you updates to inform you that the Trust has looked at reducing the protection of salary for those affected by organisational change. These negotiations have been on going and are due to result in a formal proposal being made to the branch. Following this we will consult with our members. It is our intention to debate this at our next branch executive on 7th September, if we receive the proposals in good time, and to then decide on how to consult with you all on the proposed changes. We will keep you updated and provide the information which you will need, and expect, from your union. If you wish to inform this debate then please speak to your nearest branch officer or email branch@swamb.com

Incremental rises

You will remember that last year the national employers tabled a freeze on incremental rises as a way to reduce the cost to the NHS and safeguard jobs from redundancy. This offer was rejected by all the unions involved. The Trust has tabled a suggestion to us that they would look at linking incremental progression to sickness, disciplinary and capability. The Trust have stated that the principle behind this is to reward good work performance but to use the KSF framework to link these 3 areas into the annual progression. We have debated this at JNCC and PPPG meetings and we have written to the Trust to outline our views and concerns about these proposals. We will also be receiving a formal proposal from the Trust about this and will do the same with this as the protection arrangements.

We will be setting up a page on our website to help you keeping up to date with progress and will be debating this at our branch executive. If you wish to inform this debate then please speak to your nearest branch officer or email branch@swamb.com

I hope you find these updates useful and thank you to all who have replied to our previous updates. Your views and opinions are listened to and help us to be more representative.

Kind regards

Alan Lofthouse
Branch Secretary
South Western Ambulance Branch
UNISON
07773034636
www.swamb.com