- Conference
- 2024 National Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 7 December 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference recognises that bank work in the NHS is a varied picture over the regions and devolved nations. For some bank workers, they are solely ‘on the bank’ and work regular or occasional shifts, often due to caring commitments outside of work. Others work ‘on the bank’ for overtime hours or in different roles to their substantive post.
Conference notes that the varied bank arrangements can erode Agenda for Change terms and conditions, as many Trusts pay bank rates rather than enhanced overtime when workers exceed 37.5 hours.
Without a permanent contract, conference recognises that bank workers can be more vulnerable to exploitation and are excluded from national pay deals.
Conference recognises that a nationally coordinated response, led by the HSGE, to an increasingly challenging bank working environment is needed, with Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) increasingly working together on bank issues, and organisations such as NHS Professionals having a large role in some regions and a minor role in other regions, therefore leading to a complex and varied landscape.
Conference notes that market conditions are presently stronger than in recent years due to staff shortages in the NHS, but bank workers’ conditions are not future proofed. Their shifts can dry up, the market condition or their personal circumstances may change without the protection of a contract of employment.
In light of the varied landscape, conference calls on the HSGE to:
1. Research and survey bank members in UNISON branches, with a view to create an organising campaign to identify where and who our bank worker members are; and their pay, terms and conditions.
2. Seek to launch a campaign that develops branch bargaining advice, organising and recruiting strategy for bank workers following the research and survey data.
3. Work with Labour’s Shadow Health team to reaffirm that for full time NHS workers, enhanced overtime should be paid after 37.5 hours, in line with Agenda for Change terms and conditions.