The UNISON Ambulance Branch has received numerous queries regarding the ASOS announced by a sister Trade Union. All unions have varying strategies for ASOS which have been agreed upon through their respective internal structures. On occasion, these strategies differ and can have an impact on fellow trade union members. Unfortunately, this is the situation for the coming month. Many of the differences in the ASOS strategies are actually the application of already agreed processes that have been mismanaged by the Trust. Therefore, it is UNISON’s view that mismanaged processes should be challenged, and reported through Datix as appropriate and the grievance process should be used as necessary but they are not actions that would be considered to be ASOS. As such any mismanaged processes should be challenged regardless of industrial action.
These include:
- Start of shift protocols are already agreed and there is currently protected time to complete VDIs. This should be built into the daily working practices of both the control room and operational staff.
- RRV members should not be used after 2 a.m. as the risk assessment already exists and should not be ignored by either NIAS management, any employee or trade union member.
- Single-crewed paramedics who have not completed an expression of interest should not be working on an RRV. The Trust equally cannot force a paramedic to work on an RRV should they choose not to and no one should be working alone after 2 a.m. as per the RRV risk assessment.
- End-of-shift protocols exist and enable the handover of patients at stations and hospitals to an oncoming crew. This includes appropriate stand down of crews en route to an emergency call when another resource becomes available. This is dependent on the category of the call and the potential delay to a life-threatening emergency. This has been mismanaged and underutilized by the Trust and must be embedded in the working practices of both the control room and operational staff.
- Compensatory rest is an agreed process that is based on the principle of a minimum 11-hour break between shifts. This is AFC compliant and is your right as per your terms and conditions of employment and under the European Working Time Directive. This is a standard process and should be granted as appropriate.
The main point that is causing the most concern for members is:
“Only confirmed Cat 1 calls will be responded to in the last hour of a shift but not where it will accrue a late finish (only cardiac arrest derogated)”
There is currently an end-of-shift protocol that covers Cat 1 calls only in the last ½ hour of the shift. This should be embedded in working practice and applied to crews on every shift.
This point has cut through the requirement to maintain Life and Limb cover and also becomes a moral dilemma that is not protected by the agreed internal NIAS process. It has the potential to have a serious and significant impact on the communities we serve which often include our friends and family at the point of their greatest need. Under this proposal, only those in cardiac arrest will receive an emergency response in the last hour of a shift and all other calls (MI, CVA, RTCs, Pediatrics etc.) will not be allocated as it can easily be argued that all calls in the last hour of a shift will cause a late finish.
As a responsible union, UNISON cannot apply a similar request under the guise of ASOS based on the fact that this is the withdrawal of an emergency response from those who need us immediately in their time of need. Additionally, this is the withdrawal of life and limb cover that is generally maintained under full strike action but is now being withdrawn under ASOS. Crews could potentially find themselves the subject of SAI or HCPC investigations if CAT 1 calls are refused.
Due to the lack of progress in resolving the current pay dispute, Action Short of Strike Action will continue for the month of September 2023 and strike action within a 48-hour period over the 21st and 22nd of September 2023.
Strike Action – 21st and 22nd September
This is the most important period of industrial action to action to date. We have given the Secretary of State space to agree, offer and implement a pay uplift and pay parity for the HSCNI staff. He has failed each and every one of us. We now need to stand up and be counted. All members should plan to attend official picket lines on the days of action, off-duty staff should attend in uniform and derogated staff on duty should respond from picket lines to life and limb calls. We need to make this a period of strike action that delivers our demands for a pay offer and the restoration of Pay Parity without further delay.
Further updates concerning the strike action on 21st and 22nd September will be issued throughout September.
ASOS Update – September 2023
UNISON members began a further period of industrial action short of strike action (ASOS) starting at 00:01 on 1st August 2023 and running until 23:59 on Thursday 31st August 2023, with a further continuance of ASOS running from 00:01 on 1st September 2023 and running until 23:59 on Saturday 30th September 2023.
Action short of strike (ASOS): 1st – 30th September 2023
- Refusing to have breaks interrupted.
Derogations – 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.
- Working strictly to health & safety protocols.
Derogations – None
- Withdrawal from all union/management/Department of Health engagement except regional meetings on dispute resolution.
Derogations – None
- Strict adherence to start times.
Derogations – None.
Members should not start or book on early to answer calls, complete vehicle checks / VDIs etc. These should be commenced at the shift start time. Station-based relief members should start and finish at their base station. At the commencement of their shift, before onward travel to stations which are not their base station, but where they have been assigned duties, except when doing so would incur additional travel or expense. Relief staff will not use their own private vehicles to travel to any locations other than their base station.
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. RMC / line managers will be contacting Relief Staff to ascertain if they will be taking industrial action.
End of communique
