- Conference
- 2018 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 27 November 2017
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes the pay max campaign as a way of preparing members for potential industrial action over our pay claim of 3.9 percent and £800. It is also positive that all health unions have lined up and are behind the claim and that the claim announcement received a great deal of publicity and meant that UNISON was very visible during this period.
Conference also welcomes the fact that that the claim has been presented to the Department of Health and Jeremy Hunt and that it request additional funding to be able to pay the claim. As we recognise that it is the government who has determined what recent pay awards have been, rather than the so called independent pay review whom have agreed with every pay cap demanded by the Government. This approach will allow branches to campaign on pay now rather than waiting until the end of the pay year to begin any campaign on pay, which then allowed employers to then impose the small amount offered. This approach makes it clear to all, members employers and the government what we are asking for.
Conference notes that the Pay max campaign involves a focus on campaigning on what are day to day trade union issues, such as downbanding, regrading, car parking charges , cuts and closures etc which many branches are already organising and involved in and we believe that this campaigning activity be encouraged and continued after the end of any pay campaign.
Conference notes that whilst many branches are already involved in the pay max campaign and are fighting for their members on a day to day basis, there will be some members and branches that are either unaware or unable to participate for a variety of reasons.
Conference notes that as part of a pay campaign the Public and Commercial Services national union in the civil service held a consultation ballot nationally indicating significant votes in favour of industrial action and if this was carried through to a formal ballot would have met the new govt anti trade union laws.
Conference believes that national consultative ballots can be a useful tool to raise the visibility of the union in relation to issues of a national nature and those that cross the four nations. Consultative ballots can assist the national union and local branches in preparing for co-ordinated action and can demonstrate the national union leaderships determination to use our collective strength in any pay campaign. Thus it can help prepare our membership for the future battles to come and build confidence in the union amongst our members. It can also highlight nationally and locally if the ballot is designed well the areas where the union has strength and those where the campaign needs to be developed to ensure that we have the strongest response in any formal ballot.
Conference asks that for any future pay claims that the Health Service Group Executive:
1)Use a consultative ballot at the start of the pay campaign to begin to identify the strengths and weakness within the areas balloted;
2)Uses a consultative ballot to prepare members for any potential industrial action if the pay demands of the union are not met;
3)Use the ballot to allow members to update their details on the system;
4)Use the ballot to explain why collective industrial action may be required to be taken if the demand is not met.