Union rejects south west NHS plans for pay consortium

Health staff have voted against proposals for pay and conditions to be fixed through a regional consortium.The union Unite has gathered feedback from its NHS members about the proposals to set up the organisation to set pay and terms for staff across the South West, which includes Bristol's hospitals.Head of health at the union Rachael Maskell said that of the thousands of members who have given their feedback on the South West Pay, Terms and Conditions Consortium, "thousands" have rejected it.As previously reported in The Post some unions believe the organisation would represent something of a pay cartel and fear it could lead to health trusts struggling to recruit or retain staff, and that proposals for performance related pay and a withdrawal of anti-social hours payments were affecting morale.Unite's national health committee has now decided to launch a national fight back campaign to protect pay, and terms and conditions.Ms Maskell said: "Our members have overwhelmingly rejected the proposed changes to Agenda for Change."We note that the NHS Employers has said that these changes won't be imposed, if unions don't sign up."However, we are worried that hardline 'rogue' employers will try to flex their muscles locally to attack pay and conditions."If they are successful, it will eventually lead to NHS fragmentation and the most lucrative bits being hived off to profit-hungry private companies. "The last sorry chapter of this scenario will be the collapse of patient care across England - and the lingering death of the NHS, as we know it.  "That's why our members will be campaigning very strongly in local areas where this frightening prospect looms."She said that while there was not a traditional ballot of members on their approach to the consortium there has been voting at meetings and through consultations."The number of people supporting it can be counted on a few fingers rather than the thousands who reject it," she said.She added that asking staff to accept performance-related pay was like asking "a turkey to vote for Christmas".The consortium has said its aim is to provide "greater security for health services and staff" with an "affordable pay, terms and conditions system that recognises and rewards performance, promotes greater productivity and creates a flexible workforce".

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