A&E Demand Management Arrangements

Dear Member,

UNISON Yorkshire Ambulance Branch wishes to clarify its position regarding the enforced changes to the meal break agreement. UNISON did not agree to any changes and are completely against their imposition. The meal break agreement was negotiated to protect members by ensuring they get a break in the middle of their shift at their base station.

The meal break policy states it can only be suspended due to a major incident, Staff feel the trust are abusing them and their good will when they use the term 'MAJAX'.  The last true MAJAX, a single incident multiple casualty incident, YAS experienced was the Great Heck train disaster. More recently there was the M62 hen party incident, in both these cases staff were willing to go the extra mile without question but some of those same staff, who worked last weekend, now feel that the trust are abusing them by calling REAP level 5 an internal MAJAX in order to cancel their legal right to a meal break.

Another ridiculous situation which has arisen from thisis that members who have nearly completed theirshift are then told to take their unpaid meal break which will take them past their finishing time. Despite this they are being told by the trust that they have to remain available in their own time and cannot go home.

UNISON will never agree that members should be forced to carry food on vehicles, take their breaks away from base station or have to eat at A&E departments, the Trust also need reminding that the meal break is unpaid so members cannot be forced to be available.

UNISON is fully aware that demand has risen and the pressure this has caused but do not agree that working already exhausted members harder is the way forward, UNISON therefore insist that the Trust revert back to the agreed policy and enter meaningful discussions with UNISON.