Letters extra – August 2012

Cartel plans ‘disastrous’

The full version of a letter which was published in Letters and emails, RCN Bulletin August 2012.

At the joint RCN representatives’ conference in Leeds on 20 and 21 June, delegates were very concerned to hear details of proposed plans which will see NHS trusts in the South West of England paying £10,000 each to join the “South West Pay, Terms and Conditions Consortium” (“South West reps to fight pay cartel”, July).

Representatives see this as yet another attempt by NHS trusts in England to move away from Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions. RCN representatives and indeed, managers, ensured that AfC was implemented fairly and consistently across the NHS.

We know employers are looking to make pay more directly related to performance and to  sick pay entitlements. At the same time the Pay Review Body is about to report on ‘market facing pay’. Possible changes to AfC are being discussed at a national level and with local staff sides across England discussing it further in their own meetings. The stewards committee believes in the benefits of a national pay system. We encourage all RCN representatives to get involved in their local discussions.

We also worry about the threat to union recognition, and time off and facilities agreements, if trusts decide to go it alone. We must fight these threats if we are to maintain a workforce which is sufficiently qualified and in sufficient numbers to meet new health care challenges and deliver optimum care and treatment to our patients.

Trish Pullen
On behalf of the RCN UK Stewards Committee