Consultation and Ballot information for branches/members
Summary:
Health branches in England are asked to note the HSGE position on pay proposals, arrangements for consultative ballot and organise workplace meetings with members to explain the proposals
In full:
Health branches in England are asked to:
- Note the position agreed by the Health Service Group Executive on pay proposals from the Department of Health for 2015/6
- Note arrangements for a centralised consultative ballot of NHS members on the proposals
- Organise workplace meetings to explain the proposals to members and organise for a good turnout in the consultative ballot
Attached to this health circular you will find the following documents:
1. A4 2 sided letter from Head of Health Christina McAnea, giving the outline elements of the proposals and encouraging members to have their say in the consultation
2. Stewards’ briefing to assist you and branch reps to explain to members how the proposals could affect them
3. Frequently Asked Questions for members
Background to the proposals
These proposals were put to UNISON and the other NHS trade unions on 27 January. The government has made this new offer as a result of our ongoing programme of industrial action. Your representatives on the Health Service Group Executive met on the same day and agreed that UNISON health members should be consulted on this offer. All the NHS trade unions are now consulting members on these proposals.
UNISON Health Service Group Executive (HSGE) position
The formal position of the HSGE will be set out on the ballot paper as follows:
The Health Service Group Executive recommends this as the best we have been able to achieve through negotiation.
The HSGE believes that your action has made some improvements but has not delivered what we wanted. If you reject this offer, then further industrial action will take place on Friday 13 March.
Your consultation
The Health Service Group Executive’s strong preference was for members to be asked to vote on this proposal. UNISON would normally consult members through workplace meetings or ask branches to run ballots for their members. Rather than have branches organise their own printing and mailings to members, the Service Group Executive has asked that this is coordinated centrally, with a facility set up to re-charge branches on a per capita basis. Details of these charges will be sent to you shortly.
All members will be sent a ballot paper along with a copy of the A4 2-sided letter from Christina McAnea described above, and a pre-paid return envelope. This needs to be returned by 10am on Monday 2 March 2015.
Ballot papers will include the wording of UNISON’s official policy on the proposals and will ask members if they:
wish to ACCEPT the pay proposals for 2015/16
or
wish to REJECT the pay proposals for 2015/16 and am prepared to take industrial action including strike action starting on 13 March 2015
The Health Service Group Executive is very conscious that this is a tight timetable for consultation. However, this is the only timetable to allow us to take strike action on the agreed date of 13 March if the offer is rejected.
Downloads:
HC-016-15_NHS_pay_proposals_ballot_attachment_1_-_A4_2sided_ballot_insert_letter
HC-016-15_NHS_pay_proposals_ballot_attachment_2_-_Stewards_briefing
HC-016-15_NHS_pay_proposals_ballot_attachment_3_-_Member_FAQs
