Representation of Members in Non-Core Employers

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Conference
2006 Health Care Service Group Conference
Date
30 December 2005
Decision
Remitted

This conference recognises that fragmentation of our branches in the conventional sense is taking place. Service Group Executive members on UNISONs ‘Structures Review Group’ should urgently address the range of facilities afforded by employers. This is called for in the face of the most advanced package of changes in the NHS yet faced by branches.

The most recent changes have and will include;

· Secondment of members to other sectors including the Private and

Voluntary and local Government

·Transfer of members to other sectors as above

·Merger of employers cross branches and regions

·Out sourcing of members to local or National Private Contractors

·Closure of traditional employer bases

Facilities agreements are now not in keeping with these new boundaries, competition created since the establishment of NHS Trusts has meant branches having inflexible agreements that do not give the ability to represent members other than in the core or main employer.

The failure of branches to be able to respond to matters in developing workplaces has resulted in loss of membership and inappropriate referrals to Regional Office where staff are required to step in at low levels in a very cost inefficient way.

Year upon year these matters are highlighted at conference and year after year we lose more reps to ‘burn out’ or a refusal to do more and more in their own time. We ask the Service Group Executive to ensure that current work includes reports to Regions on ways to improve structures and facilities and engage with the employer’s bodies nationally to enable cross employer representations as a norm rather than a gift!