- Conference
- 2005 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 24 December 2004
- Decision
- Carried
This conference notes that under the Agenda for Change Agreement, Cost of Living Supplements (COLS) are to be “re-expressed” as long-term Recruitment and Retention Premia.
This measure simply perpetuates the fundamental injustice of COLS, which were introduced without negotiation in 2001, payable to nurses and other health professionals in some areas, but not paid to the most low-paid staff, and with no consultation about which areas should be covered.
UNISON has led the way in campaigning against the injustice and inequality of COLS, and has been consistently told that Agenda for Change would resolve the issue, which is why we are doubly disappointed to see that this totally unsatisfactory situation is set to continue.
We note that the AfC Agreement does allow for areas with an identifiably higher cost of living to introduce a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) for all staff, based on current London allowances.
Conference pledges to commit the union to pursue, by any means necessary, a campaign for such HCAS to be introduced in areas currently paying COLS, and to identify any further areas where these supplements should be introduced. Conference calls for central government funding to be made available, to ensure HCAS can be paid without detriment to the ability of local health providers to maintain services.