Suspension of Meal Breaks

UNISON is disgusted by the knee jerk reactions of the trust over the weekend. The meal break policy allows for suspension of the breaks for MAJAX situations only.  Whilst it was clearly busy there was no MAJAX and therefore the trust should not have put member’s health and safety at risk by working them without a meal break or working excessive hours before getting food and rest.

The trust appear to be in melt down in terms of ORCON but this is not the answer, the new rotas, the band 5 and 3 model is clearly not working , nor is the lack of an urgent tier. UNISON is willing to have meaningful discussions with the trust about an alternative model but feel that they need to stop breaking existing policies. Members are already mentally and physically exhausted from working the trusts failed operational redesign, to then have the added stress of having to go ten and twelve hours without a meal break is totally unacceptable and in breach of not only the trust policy but also The European Working Time Directive.

UNISON members have made their position clear. If the Trust breaks the Meal Break Agreement again and puts member’s health at risk, industrial action is a very strong possibility.  This sort of approach from the trust is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by UNISON members.

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