- Conference
- 2024 National Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 16 November 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference recognises the nursing associate role as a valuable asset within the nursing family and a route to qualifying as a registered nurse. It also notes the key role UNISON played in the correct regulation and recognition of nursing associates.
Since their introduction, UNISON has campaigned to ensure that nursing associates are treated fairly, have clear roles and responsibilities and access to ongoing learning and development.
When it comes to recruiting trainee nurse associates (TNAs), unlike student nurses, TNAs are employed by Trusts and are therefore not eligible for student membership at the £10 a year rate. This causes confusion and upset, particularly when intermixed with nursing students at induction events. They see UNISON’s apprentice and student rate and believe they fall within those categories of membership. The mood of cohorts drops considerably when informed they have to pay the full employed rate of subs.
If organisers and recruiters are unaware of TNAs being mixed in with students, many join on the student rate and their membership is then rejected by IMPS (Income and Membership Processing Services), causing the team additional work and consequently we lose that member, unless they join on full employed status. In addition, members who join online themselves independent of inductions will inevitably tick the student or apprentice box believing they fall within that category of membership, only to have their membership rejected.
UNISON is also up against rival unions who offer TNAs a much-reduced rate under a nursing support worker category of membership. Whereas UNISON’s subs are £14.00 per month, they offer £4.10 per month for the first year, rising to £8.20 per month thereafter.
Given the current financial crisis, a potential member is more likely to join the rival as money may be the main driver meaning UNISON loses out on members that from experience tend to stay with the Union they first join for at least 7 years. HCAs who are already UNISON members may also leave when they become TNAs affecting retention rates.
Conference therefore calls upon the SGE to raise this matter with the National Executive Council:
• with a view to implementing a reduced rate of subs for TNAs for the first two years of training;
• To Include on the UNISON joining browser the category trainee nurse associate in addition to apprentice and student to avoid confusion and ensure that members are joining under the correct category of membership; on whatever rate is established.
Yorkshire & Humberside Region