Industrial action is ‘only option left’, say Glasgow RCN members

Health visitor team leaders in Glasgow have been left with no option but to take action as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has failed to follow nationally agreed job evaluation processes. 

The group of staff are planning action short of strike action at this stage, which means a work to rule to their original job description of 2009.

Throughout the dispute NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has refused to follow the agreed once for Scotland job evaluation process, despite an updated job description being signed off by local managers and submitted for evaluation. 

The health board’s HR department put a series of additional layers of sign off in place at odds with the nationally agreed process. They also requested various changes to the job description even though it had already been agreed by local managers. 

The staff are still waiting for a job evaluation panel to consider their application.

Commenting, Philip Coghill, RCN Scotland Head of Head of Pay, Terms and Conditions, said: “Our members absolutely do not want to take industrial action. They are fully committed to giving safe and effective care to the children and families in their care. But they feel undervalued, demoralised and that the actions of the employer have left them no choice. 

“It is extremely frustrating to be back in a very similar situation to last year’s dispute with district nurses. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde show no signs of learning from experience that they can’t run roughshod over nationally agreed employment processes followed in other health boards across Scotland. We’re seeing a pattern of behaviour that is undermining the health board’s workforce.

“The net result of the health board’s actions are that the health visitor team leaders are working to job descriptions agreed in 2009 that are out of date. But the needs of patients and health visiting practice have changed significantly in the intervening 17 years. That’s letting down parents, children and staff alike.

“It still remains the case that the health board could avert this action by seeing sense and removing the blockages to job evaluation for this essential group of staff.

“We have fully supported the members during their fight with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, representing the members in negotiations with the employer and lobbying Scottish government to step in. We will continue that support throughout the industrial action.”