UNITE THE UNION, INDUSTRIAL ACTION1st FEBUARY 2014

HAVING HEARD THE CONCERNS OF MEMBERS FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNITE THE UNION TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION ON THE 1STFEBRUARY WE HAVE TAKEN ADVICE FROM OUR REGIONAL OFFICERS. FIRSTLY WE NEEDED TO CLARIFY OUR LEGAL POSITION & ADVISE YOU OF THIS, THE ADVICE WE HAVE RECEIVED IS,

“Legally our members cannot take part in the action (and not crossing a picket line would be seen as taking action) it would be classed as illegal as we have not held a strike ballot.”

HAVING RECEIVED THIS ADVICE WEIGHTED AGAINSTTHE STRONG FEELINGS WE WERE RECEIVING FROM MEMBERS, THAT THEY FELT THEY COULD NOT CROSS A PICKET LINE, WE MET WITH THE TRUST. WE HAD AVERY CONSTRUCTIVE MEETING AT WHICH THE TRUSTAGREED TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US TO AVOID MEMBERS BEEN PUT IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO CROSS PICKET LINES AND AGREED THAT UNISON MEMBERS COULD OPERATE FROM PICKET LINES IF THEY WISHED. ANY STAFF MEMBER WHO FEELS UNABLE TO CROSS THE PICKET LINES SHOULD RING THEIR CLINICAL SUPERVISOR ON ARRIVAL AT THEIR STATION AND REQUEST THEIR VEHICLE BE BROUGHT TO THE PICKET LINE.