Congress 2013 Emergency Motion 04: Ambulance Service – NHS employer-imposed cuts to sick pay

Congress 2013

The Ambulance Service unions call on the TUC to give its full backing to ambulance workers in England who are facing imposed cuts of up to 25 per cent to their sick pay without agreement, and who are prepared to take strike action to defend their terms and conditions.

The GMB, alongside Unite and UNISON, balloted their members on a proposal put forward by NHS employers to cut ambulance workers Unsocial Hours Allowance Sickness Entitlement. In the GMB consultation, over 90 per cent of ambulance workers rejected cuts to their sick pay with similar results in UNISON and Unite.

Despite this, NHS employers told unions on 29 August they were proceeding and have imposed changes without notice and without agreement with effect from 1/9/2013. As a result of this imposition local and national disputes have been lodged with the ambulance service.

999 ambulance workers are doing an incredible job looking after the public whilst government policy is crippling the NHS, and driving ambulance services to crisis point. GMB ambulance members have spoken loud and clear in this ballot; ambulance workers refuse to see their colleagues, and ultimately the public, put at risk and we ask for TUC support in calling on NHS employers to withdraw their imposition and get back round the negotiating table. The prospect of industrial action is an inevitable reality should employers not withdraw their imposition.

Mover: GMB

Seconder: Unite

Supporter: UNISON