- Conference
- 2009 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 10 December 2008
- Decision
- Carried
UNISON recognises the importance of all organisations playing their part in reducing the carbon footprint. Conference in particular notes and applauds UNISON’s “Greening the Workplace” campaign and in particular its work in promoting greener staff travel plans.
UNISON notes the
·NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy and its commitment to reduce its emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 in all areas including travel.
·The work of NHS Security Management Services in encouraging safer car parking facilities.
·The decision of NHS Scotland to abolish car parking charges for staff.
UNISON also applauds many of the local initiatives by individual NHS Employers. These include:
·Flexible shifts
·Dedicated car park spaces for car sharers
·Buddy schemes to walk lone staff back or from their cars on late shifts
·Incentives to swap from car to bike.
·Subsidy of bus permits for staff, and extension of internal bus services to facilitate staff using them to get to and from work.
However UNISON also notes that:
·Rail fares continue to increase above the rate of inflation;
·Bus services continue to be limited especially at night and in rural areas;
·In many areas proper safe cycling routes remain limited and many employers; still do not provide any assistance to their staff to encourage them to cycle to work;
·That many new build PFI hospital sites have been located in out-of-town sites with poor public transport links.
·Staff who often have greatest need of car parking are denied it where car parking is limited and permits are ‘rationed’.
·For many NHS workers travelling to work has become more expensive with rising fares, fuel and car parking charges. They also remain concerned for their safety with badly lit car parks, walkways and pedestrian access to work.
Conference therefore calls upon the Health Group Executive to encourage health branches to use UNISON’s “Greening the workplace toolkit” in their negotiations with employers for safer and greener transport to work policies. Conference also urges the Executive to work with NHS Employers to pressure all health care employers:
1.To provide incentives to staff to swap from their cars to using public transport, cycling or foot through interest free season ticket loans, financial assistance in the purchase of cycles, equipment and clothing, and better shower and changing facilities;
2.Provide better and safer cycle and foot paths;
3.Provide better & safer cycle or motorbike parking;
4.Provide subsidised bus permits and extend internal bus services enabling transport to and from work as well as between sites;
5.Work with local authorities and public transport providers to improve safe integrated public transport links, bus & train stations;
6.To ensure those with disabilities are not discriminated against through car parking charges or any other transport to work issues;
7.Pay more attention to the transport needs of both patients & staff when deciding on the location of any new buildings or facilities.
However the Executive should also urge employers to ensure that staff who are required to use their car to get to work, through either location, hours of work, or disability, are provided with safe secure parking free of charge. Also where money has been raised through car parking charges, this should be ring fenced to improve all transport to work facilities for NHS staff.