- Conference
- 2007 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 29 December 2006
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that a significant number of UNISON health members in learning disability services have been transferred out of the NHS. These members undertake similar roles to before their transfer, often working with the same service users. Staff transferred in this way normally had TUPE protection of their existing terms and conditions, but have generally not had the opportunity to access the Agenda for Change system. New staff employed by these organisations, also UNISON health members, are typically employed on inferior terms and conditions.
UNISON health policy from last year’s Health Conference is to work to bring these member’s terms and conditions in line with Agenda for Change. The agreement to end the two-tier workforce in public services gives us an ideal opportunity to work to achieve this. Conference is however dismayed at Cabinet Office guidance that suggests that when services are re-tendered the terms and conditions of the employer that has taken over from the NHS should be the reference point for equivalent terms and conditions, not the NHS itself. This clearly undermines the objective of the agreement and makes the inferior terms and conditions permanent.
Conference believes that none of the workforce providing public services, whether in hospitals or the community, should be divided in this way. We call upon the Service Group Executive, the Labour Link and the wider union to lobby for the adoption of an approach that works to achieve this objective.