UNISON Ambulance The union for ambulance staff The Last 15 years - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

UNISON Ambulance The union for ambulance staff

The Last 15 years • Changing nature of ambulance services • Introduction of Agenda for Change terms and conditions • Professionalization agenda • See and treat, hear and treat • Cuts to NHS services • 2011> Conservative government • Devolution • Introduction of support grades to replace EMT • Paramedic skills increases

Agenda for Change • National UK wide terms and conditions • 1.3 million NHS staff • Job Evaluation • UK wide pay rates with variation at country level • Defending Agenda for Change against attacks • 40000 ambulance staff on AfC • 25217 paramedics in UK

Industrial factors • Privatisation agenda – Patient Transport Services • Devolution • Threats to Agenda for Change • Industrial action over pay and pensions • Reconfiguration of Ambulance Services (2005 – 2007) • Legacy issues • Options for paramedics outside ambulance services

Factors leading to paramedic pay award • 2014/15 Industrial action • 2003 pay for 2015 skills • Ambulance Emergency Campaign – Keep your promises • Indicative ballot • NHS PRB evidence • Joint Trade Union strategy

Government offer The Government offer included: 1.Recruitment and retention (JE and/or RRP) 2.50:50 pension top up – ERRBO 3.Retirement age changes and challenges

National Ambulance Strategic Partnership Forum • England only • Sub groups • Employer buy-in • Employer issue to JE outcome if not funded • Joint approach to funding

Ambulance Emergency Campaign – Keep your promises 1. Fair pay for ambulance staff 2. A safe and sensible retirement age 3. Healthier happier staff = healthier happier patients 4. Proper training, development and career progression for ambulance staff

Consultative Ballot UNISON’s ballot results were: Q. I am prepared to take action short of strike action Yes 93.3% No 6.7% Q. I am prepared to take strike action Yes 77.4% No 22.6% Turnout 41%

• Mechanism of move to band 6 • Retrospective application • Development of NQP role, CoL and including retro NQPs The • Fast track scheme agreement • Existing linked banding agreements • Funding • Urgent and Emergency Care Review • National Paramedic Job description • National Band 6 Paramedic JE role profile • Devolved nations differences

Success factors • Joint Union working • Consistent aims and outcomes • Mixture of industrial strength, campaigning, influencing, negotiation • Joint approach to funding • Using the JE scheme • All parties signing up to Paramedic Banding agreement • http://www.nhsemployers.org/ambulance

Ambulance staff salaries