15th January 2024
Industrial Action update for Strike Action – 18th January 2024
Strike notices were issued to the employer (NIAS) on 11th January 2024 informing the Trust of UNISON’s intention to take strike action on 18th January 2024. On receipt of the notification, NIAS requested a meeting to discuss derogations for the day of industrial action that will maintain life and limb cover.
The information below gives general advice for UNISON members, confirms the industrial action to be taken and covers all derogations agreed with the Trust.
Information on derogations and members rights:
- Unison and all other trade unions have a legal and moral responsibility to provide “life & limb” emergency cover. If requested by the employer (NIAS), derogations may be agreed with Trade Unions for certain job roles and functions necessary to maintain life and limb cover. However, this does not detract from an individual member’s right to take industrial action, including full strike action (full withdrawal of labour), with the full support of Unison. Unison members are also not obliged to inform their managers of their intentions on the days of strike action in advance. However, it is best practice to do so if asked.
Overtime:
- Unison members will not partake in voluntary overtime for the period of the strike action. Any overtime shifts already offered and/or accepted should be cancelled via RMC giving as much notice as possible. Involuntary overtime such as late finishes will remain unaffected.
Strike pay:
- Strike pay of up to £50 may be claimed for the 24 hours (may be increased to £70 if agreed by the National Industrial Action Committee). To claim strike pay, members should attend their local picket lines and support colleagues in our fight for an NI pay offer, fair pay and pay parity. Additionally, strike pay can only be claimed if salary has been lost/deducted for the period of strike action. The process for claiming strike pay will be provided in a separate communique.
Pickets/Demos:
- There will be picket lines at all major hospital sites throughout the region. Staff taking strike action should report to their local picket line and join colleagues from the other HSC Trusts. Derogated staff should report to work as normal and follow any agreed derogations. Derogated staff will be facilitated and rotated to allow attending local picket lines whilst safe levels of cover are maintained at their area of work. There will be a Trade Union rally on Thursday 18th January 2024 at Belfast City Hall starting at 12.00 midday which members will be facilitated to attend. As with previous rallies, please remain on the peripheries and maintain mobile communications in case an emergency response is necessary.
Strike Action – 24 hours from 00:01 to 23:59 on 18th January 2024
EAC:
- Unison EMDs will report for duty as normal but only answer 999 calls and not participate in any other form of routine work.
- Unison Control Officers will report for duty as normal but only dispatch to Category 1 calls and upgraded “life & limb” threatening calls in the community.
- All Unison EAC members will work with managers to ensure safe levels of coverage. Once established, members may attend the demos as noted above.
- Unison CSD Paramedics will report for duty as normal and work with managers to ensure safe levels of cover. Once established, members may attend the demos as noted above.
- Clinical upgrading will be monitored periodically throughout the period of strike action by Trade Unions
NEAC:
- All Unison NEAC members will report for duty as normal and provide cover for Cancer, palliative care, Renal and Pediatric outpatients and major incident cover if necessary. Unison members should rotate to attend the local picket line and demo, and/or form a picket line outside NEAC as necessary.
CSOs:
- Unison CSO members will be on strike and attend local picket lines/demos. CSOs working with operational crews (exceptional circumstances only) will respond from the local picket line/demo to Category 1 calls and upgraded “life & limb” threatening calls in the community only. All other CSO staff who are not providing operational A&E cover will be on strike and attend local picket lines/demos.
VCOs:
Single crewed staff:
- Members who find themselves single-crewed on the day will remain at their base station and will not move to other locations to crew up. They will also not move onto RRVs unless they are on the list for RRV duties and meet RRV criteria. The option for strike action remains available to them and if taken should report to the local picket line.
Station Supervisors:
- Unison Station Supervisors will not partake in administration days (SAD) on 18th January 2024 and will undertake operational duties in line with their clinical grade. Exceptions are those supervisors on restricted duties for medical reasons who are not derogated and should be on strike and attend local picket lines/demos.
HALOs:
- Unison operational managers will report for duty as normal. Whilst maintaining safe levels of managerial cover, will deploy to and from local picket lines/demos. They will continue to provide logistical and welfare support to staff.
Operational Managers:
- Unison Operational managers will be on strike and attend local picket lines/demos.
Non-operational Managers:
RMC:
- Unison RMC members will be on strike and attend local picket lines/demos.
PCS/ACA:
- Unison PCS / ACA members (PCS and A&E support) will report for duty and book on and carry out radio checks as per normal procedures. PCS members will respond to calls for Cancer, palliative care, Renal and Pediatric outpatients and provide major incident cover. A&E support members will attend appropriately triaged A&E support calls to back up A&E colleagues and provide major incident cover. All PCS / ACA members whilst not engaged in operational duties will attend the local picket lines/demos and deploy from there.
A&E/RRV:
- Unison A&E/RRV members will report for duty and book on and carry out radio checks as per normal procedures. They will attend local picket lines/demos and from there deploy to Category 1 and upgraded “life & limb” threatening calls in the community.
HART:
- Unison HART members will report for duty and book on as per normal procedures. They will attend local picket lines/demos and from there deploy to Category 1 and upgraded “life & limb” threatening calls in the community. They will not attend rostered training days on days of strike action.
Relief (PCS/A&E Support and A&E):
- Relief staff will start and finish at their base station. They will not use their personal transport / private cars for transport to other locations as per ASOS.
Clerical/Admin/Reception/HR:
- These Unison members will be on strike and attend local picket lines/demos.
Information Technology:
- Unison IT members will be on strike and attend local picket lines/demos.
Stores / Maintenance:
- All members will report for duty as normal and rotate to the local picket line. They will maintain safe levels of cover and be contactable to support the A&E function only throughout this period.
All other Unison members not derogated will be on strike and report to their local picket line.
End of communique
