THE UNISON Health conference meets on 26-28 April in
Glasgow. The main issue facing health workers is the Agenda for Change (AFC)
pay/grading and restructuring package. Although this will be the backgroud to
the conference, the final decision will be made at a special conference in
October.
Brian Loader NHSLA, steward, personal capacity
AFC involves job evaluation, appraisal-linked pay and
major variations to important conditions of service. Intended to replace the
patchwork quilt of local/national and non-negotiated conditions of service in
the NHS, it is linked to a series of poor percentage pay increases over a
three-year period. But many NHS workers risk pay and grading cuts because of
AFC.
UNISON’s bureaucracy headed off a vote against AFC at last
year’s Health Service Group conference by delaying a decision on it whilst it
was "piloted" via an "Early Implementers Group" (EIG). As most left activists
oppose AFC, the EIG is comprised largely of relatively inactive right-wing
branches, often dominated by regional officers.
UNISON Health Service Group Executive have the set the
date for the 2nd Special AFC Conference to begin on 4 October. This will be
followed by a national ballot on whether to extend AFC across the NHS and
accept the remaining 3.25% pay increase in April 2005 as part of the derisory
10% pay deal over three years.
But information from the 12 Early Implementers show that
low pay and over work won’t change.
The Socialist Party believes that the NHS trade unions
should organise a joint campaign for a one year pay increase of 6% or £1,200,
for all NHS workers, as a step towards a legal minimum of £8 per hour or £320
per week.
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For a 35-hour week, with no loss of pay.
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No reduction in Sunday overtime and rest-day pay.
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Rebuild the NHS, free at the point of use and under
democratic control. -
Take into public ownership the large pharmaceutical and
medical supply companies, under democratic working-class control and
management. Compensation to be paid only on the basis of proven need.
