RCN signs agreement with Four Seasons

Published: 05 February 2013

The Royal College of Nursing has signed a joint recognition agreement with Four Seasons, the UK’s leading independent provider of health and social care services. The agreement, also signed by the GMB and Unison, covers more than 500 care homes, hospitals and specialised care centres employing over 30,000 staff caring for more than 20,000 residents.

This is the first such voluntary joint agreement between a major independent care provider and the three unions. Under the agreement Four Seasons and its specialist care division, the Huntercombe Group, will recognise the joint unions for negotiation and consultation on a unit-by-unit basis.

Dr Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, said: “The RCN welcomes this historic agreement and looks forward to working with Four Seasons to provide advice and support to our members in the workplace.

"We have always maintained that a partnership between employers and trade unions contributes to a better working environment and benefits everyone with better pay, terms and conditions and improved care and treatment for clients. By working together we have an opportunity to have a stronger voice on professional issues.”

The Chief Executive of Four Seasons, Pete Calveley, said: “We are committed to provide the highest standards of care for our residents and to set the sector benchmark for quality and value. We are fully supported by our owners Terra Firma, who share this commitment and understand it is best achieved by having a well-trained, stable and highly motivated workforce and good, co-operative employee relations. These are the same objectives that our employees and the unions have.”