- Conference
- 2022 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 1 December 2021
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes with concern:
1 The rapid rise in fuel costs during the Autumn/Winter of 2021.
2 That a number of health roles continue to require the use of a car as public transport, cycling etc, cannot be used. This is a particular issue in rural areas.
3 That the current rates of mileage for both lease car and private vehicle users under Agenda for Change have not been reviewed since 2014 and cannot reflect the current costs of driving for work.
4 That the effect of this is that the gap between the amounts paid out, and the actual cost of work related driving has become much wider.
5 That many staff such as support workers and Health Care Assistants who may do upwards of 50 miles a day, are disproportionately affected.
Conference therefore calls for action as follows:
1 Regions and Branches to collect evidence of the financial hardship incurred by our members working in health as a result of increased fuel costs, and the failure of official mileage rates to keep up.
2 UNISON representatives on the NHS Staff Council to raise this issue as a matter of urgency.
3 To present evidence of the impact of poor reimbursement rates to both the Staff Council, and as part of UNISON’s evidence to the Pay Review Body
4 Via Labour Link, to liaise with elected representatives in both the Westminster Government and the devolved Governments to press for an urgent uplift in the amounts allowed by HMRC so that a rise in mileage rates is not wiped out by an increased tax burden.
5 To include fair mileage in campaigns such as Earnings Max and Fair Pay for Patient Care.