- Conference
- 2007 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 20 December 2006
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the Government’s intention for all English NHS Trusts to attain Foundation status by 2008. It further notes that the pace and number of Trusts applying for Foundation status is increasing.
UNISON maintains a position of opposition to Foundation Trusts (FTs) and recognises that the additional freedoms granted to FTs can potentially undermine not only the ethos and continuity of the NHS as a public sector entity but also the integrity of national agreements such as Agenda for Change.
UNISON adopts a member-centred approach to change in the NHS recognising that whilst we oppose some changes we still have members working in those areas where changes take place and that we need to negotiate for and campaign in their best interests which can mean having to organise in structures that we are opposed to. This ‘twin track’ approach is one that can be applied to Foundation Trusts.
Conference is concerned that under the guise of ‘commercial confidentiality’ many FTs are refusing to divulge information used for monitoring and bargaining purposes which can seriously impact upon maintaining national agreements such as Agenda for Change. Therefore an ‘intelligence network’ is essential to monitor local variations in national pay, terms and conditions enabling such information to be shared across UNISON Branches in England and so prevent the underpinning principles of a national pay system being eroded.
Conference also recognises that the new governance arrangements pose a threat to trade union organisation and recognition in FTs through the introduction of the staff constituency. Equally, holding office as a Staff Side or Union representative within this constituency may be seen to compromise any stance of opposition to cuts, redundancies etc. However, the ability for Trade Unions to be recognised and to organise must be maintained and therefore Branches should ensure that Staff Side/Union places are built in to the framework.
Conference calls on the Health Service Group Executive to:
1.Maintain a position of opposition to FTs on the grounds that they undermine the NHS as a public sector entity and the integrity of national agreements for pay, terms and conditions;
2.Develop an intelligence network using UNISON’s Bargaining Information Support system to monitor local variations in national pay, terms and conditions and to prevent the underpinning principles of a national pay system being eroded;
3.Encourage regions to develop FT forums to allow cross-branch discussion on local variations and agree a common position;
4.Encourage branches to participate in FT governance arrangements by negotiating Staff Side/Union positions in the staff constituency and to produce a branch guide to assist in this process.