AfC consultation begins

Published: 29 November 2012

RCN members are being urged to attend their branch meetings to have their say about proposed changes to the national NHS contract (Agenda for Change or AfC).

The RCN, along with other NHS trade unions, has been negotiating with employers around proposed changes. Unions have been forced to negotiate changes as we faced the possibility of employers moving away from a national contract and towards regional agreements.

Writing in an email to RCN members living in England who work for the NHS, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said:

“We’ve seen what can happen when trusts erode the employment rights set in AfC, just look at what’s happened in the south west, where the pay cartel has proposed damaging cuts to pay, annual leave and sick leave entitlement of staff in the region.

“We did not want to see moves to regional pay replicated across England, so we sat down with employers to try and find a way forward. Now, along with the other trade unions, we are in a position to ask you what you think about the proposed changes to your terms and conditions.”

The RCN will use its branch and board structure to engage with members and branch meetings will take place between now and the middle of January. RCN members who work for the NHS and live in England will soon receive an email with details of their next branch meeting.

Read more about the proposed changes and how you can get involved in the consultation in RCN Head of Employment Relations Josie Irwin’s blog.