Most Unite members will be aware that some NHS employers are looking to cut terms and conditions of staff through making changes to Agenda for Change. The NHS Employers organisation, that represents local employers, has bought proposals to the Staff Council over the last two years about changes that it wants to make to your terms and conditions.
This list of proposals has been cut down to include moving to performance related pay, cutting sickness entitlements, and moving some staff off Agenda for Change pay altogether.
Over the summer we consulted with all local staff sides, along side other unions about these proposals. Your Unite representatives overwhelmingly rejected these changes, and will continue to fight for your equality proofed pay system and improvements to Agenda for Change.
On 9 November, there will be proposals going to the Staff Council over the future of Agenda for Change, including the changes that we consulted over. We will again reject these proposals, as we have consistently done on your behalf.
Local employers are also trying to undermine Agenda for Change at a Trust level. We are opposing this also.
Staff in the NHS have already had two years of pay cuts, with possibly more to come alongside down banding, cuts to NRRP and on call and increases in pension contributions. Some of our members have already lost a third of their income.
We have to fight back and make a stand, or employers will come for more. We need your help in defending Agenda for Change. Don’t forget, this is all about making you cheap and the NHS competitive in the race to privatise the whole service. Defending Agenda for Change is about defending the NHS, the patients and services and importantly your jobs and terms and conditions.
Unite will oppose all proposals to erode Agenda for Change, and will be calling on you to work with us in defending your terms and conditions. After 9 November 2012, we will be moving to a consultation for Industrial Action to defend Agenda for Change.
We will be mailing all members in the next couple of weeks. Please ensure that your membership details are up to date by going to My Unite – the top right hand corner of the front page of the Unite website.
In solidarity
Rachael Maskell & Frank Keogh
Unite Head of Health National Industrial Sector Committee Chair
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