PARAMEDIC BANDING BALLOT

Dear Member,

UNISON Yorkshire Ambulance Branch is consulting its Paramedic members at ALL grades with a view to them taking industrial action. This is due to the complete impasse in regards to Paramedic pay, banding and responsibilities. Since the initial band 5 was enforced on Paramedics the role has expanded beyond belief. Two of the three merged services evaluated the Paramedic role as band 6 but it was changed nationally much to everyone’s disgust.

There is currently a formal Paramedic appeal in place within the Trust and a paramedic review, in line with Agenda for Change (AfC). Both these issues are currently within the “blocked process” of AfC with very little enthusiasm from the Trust to move the process on.

UNISON YAS Branch believes that the current Paramedic role sits firmly in band 6 and can highlight the massive skills drift since 2004. Recently UNISON has had discussions with the Trust to try and resolve the issue but to no avail and little if any acknowledgment of the huge responsibilities placed on our Paramedic member’s. Other trusts have acknowledged the fact that Paramedics are now working to the band 6 level and as a result are paying their Paramedics band 6.

UNISON are adamant that Yorkshire Paramedics are also working to band 6 level and are initiating a campaign which could include industrial action up to and including a strike, if the issue is not resolved. UNISON can no longer allow its members to carry out a band 6 role for band 5 pay.

In the first instance UNISON needs to clarify the strength of opinion within its membership by conducting a straw poll ballot, this is required before we can progress to a FULL electoral reform industrial action ballot.

Either email YES or NO with your membership number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or print and complete this form then to

UNISON, Union Office, YAS HQ, Brindley Way, Wakefield, WF2 OXQ

CLOSING DATE FOR BALLOT WILL BE – Midday 11th December 2015