Update from the UNISON NI Industrial Action Committee – Jan 31st 2024
The Branches were congratulated on the response of their members to the call to action on January 18th. UNISON’s media profile was strong and the presence on pickets and at rallies was very good. Determination to continue the fight for pay justice and the return of pay parity was very evident on strike day.
The meeting reviewed current developments.
UNISONS position is for the full restoration of pay parity.
We have been told that the proposed funding stream for public sector pay will only be released from the treasury after:
- Executive in place (by Saturday, Feb 3rd)
- Ministers appointments by (Monday, Feb 5th)
- Regional health trade unions will then be consulted on a pathway and a schedule for negotiations on AFC pay.
The meeting agreed that branch delegates to the Health Service Group will make themselves available for any briefings as the need arises. Further brief bulletins will be issued to branches and info posted on social media as developments occur.
Anne Speed
Head of Bargaining and Representation
Continuous Industrial Action – End of Shift
UNISON members have been taking continuous industrial action impacting the dispatch and response to lower acuity emergency calls in the last hour of every operational shift from Friday 20th October 2023. This action ensured that Unison members were only dispatched to appropriately triaged calls that meet the definition of “life and limb” cover.
Life Preserving Services Definition (Life and Limb cover):
· Emergency intervention for the preservation of life or for the prevention of permanent disability;
· Care required for therapeutic services without which life would be jeopardised or permanent disability would occur;
· Urgent diagnostic procedures and assessment required to obtain information on potentially life-threatening conditions or conditions that could potentially lead to permanent disability
Unison members will only be dispatched to Category 1 calls and upgraded calls that meet the definition of “Life and limb” cover in the last hour of every shift.
All other agreed end-of-shift protocols that support staff and restrict the allocation of lower acuity calls in the last two hours of a shift will continue to apply.
This is continuous industrial action that members should observe unless informed otherwise in a further UNISON communique.
Action short of a strike (ASOS) February & March 2024
- Working strictly to individual terms and conditions of employment.
- Working strictly to health and safety protocols.
- Withdrawal from all union /management /department engagement except where failure to engage would incur a detrimental impact on a member or members.
- Not managing any additional work or processes that result from the ongoing industrial action including logistics at the start and end of designated shifts.
- Not doing any other work that is outside of an employee’s job description and is the clear responsibility of another job role.
- Strict adherence to start times and finish times. (specific and limited derogations apply to finish times for operational crews)
- Refusing to have breaks interrupted.A&E operational members will request to have their meal breaks at their base station, within the agreed meal break windows. These breaks should only be disturbed for Category 1 immediately life-threatening calls. All members who are on unpaid meal breaks should have their meal breaks at their base station/location, within the meal break period. These breaks should not be disturbed.
- Not starting early to accept or provide handovers prior to the start of a designated shift.
- Not starting or booking on early to answer calls, complete vehicle checks / VDIs etc. These should be commenced at the shift start time.
- Relief staff will start and finish at their base station. They will not use their personal transport / private cars for transport to other locations.
- EAC will only dispatch calls to operational crews in line with the current industrial action impacting the last hour of every operational shift.
Local UNISON Shop Stewards and H&S Reps should be contacted if further information is required. NIAS has been given due notice of this action short of a strike, as per legislative requirements.
End of communique
