Managment have issued a proposal regarding Paramedics moving into band 6, the branch committee met today to discuss the proposal and are recommending rejection for the following reasons;
This is not band 6, as was voted for in the recent ballot, it is in effect three extra pay points added to the top of band 5.
We believe the qualification they are wanting is actually band 7 at least, therefore they are not sticking to A4C Job Evaluation.
There is nothing in A4C about merging pay bands nor about creating new false gateways.
HART paramedic Clincial Advisors, Helipoter Paramedic Senior /clinical advisor 111, Clinical Supervisor, Trauma Coordinators, Frequent Caller Team. These are all job roles uncapped at band 6 that do not require a degree so why should paramedics be merged have their banding capped then be expected to have a band 7 KTE (Knowledge, Training and Experiance) level to progress to the top of of band 6?
Because it is a 'merger' of the pay bands anyone not at the top of band 5 will remain where they are until they reach the top.
We believe there are about 800 band 5 paramedics, the university can only accommodate 100 per year for the post graduate qualification. It takes two year to get the degree and at least a further two years to get the post graduate qualification. For many people that will be take over 10 years to achieve.
Some PP's have already waited nearly 10 years to complete their higher education training, giving little confidence that this even higher level of education can be achieved.
The specialist paramedics are released to complete the training but all the above has to be done in your own time, other than a maximum of 4 days a year that the trust are willing to contribute.
East of England ambulance service are paying band 6 to all their paramedics as long as the commit to achieving a short mentoring course.
We are also aware that the trust are, as part of this deal, wanting to detrimental changes several current operational policies such as the Meal Break, the Relief and the Annual Leave policies along with wholesale rota changes to include annual leave in them.
We do not believe that this will address the fundamental issue of staff leaving the trust to move into band 6 roles, none of which require this preposterous level of qualifications.
Nor will the extra studying whilst continuing to carry out your role, being constantly late off yet having to attend University etc help stress levels for paramedics.
The offer does nothing to reward the current experience of existing Paramedics by still requiring them to complete all the formal qualifications.
UNISON are adamant that the correct way forward would be for a true evaluation to take place however we have no faith in the management side of any evaluation panels due to the ongoing issues with the original paramedic evaluation and subsequent appeals.
Do not be fooled by this offer, this is not band 6, all paramedics should be in band 6 without having to jump through hoops,
Please be advised that the full postal ballot is still going ahead and our recommendation is to vote Yes for industrial action to show the trust that we are all sticking together and are rejecting this derisory, insulting offer.
Vote Yes!
