Dear Member,

As you are aware UNISON Yorkshire Ambulance Branch wrote to the Chief Executive raising concerns that the Trust was not adhering to agreements, policies and procedures. UNISON stated that unless this was addressed we would have no alternative but to withdraw from all non-representation meetings. UNISON received a written response from the Chief Executive acknowledging our concerns and stated that the Trust wish to work in partnership with us.

On Tuesday the Operational Joint Steering Group was arranged and UNISON asked for clarification that ALL current agreements, policies and procedures would be adhered to. Prior to the full meeting UNISON had talks to try to resolve the situation, unfortunately after lengthy discussions took place the Trust did not give us that full assurance. With no such guarantees UNISON were left with no alternative but to maintain our current stance and so did not attend the main meeting.

Unfortunately the meeting then went ahead with the other recognised trade unions Unite and GMB. UNISON represents over 3100 members within the Trust and believes that the meeting was not quorate without our presence; no agreement can be made when a meeting is not quorate.

After the meeting with the other unions, the Trust management team once again engaged with UNISON and eventually gave the Branch the assurances they needed, agreeing the main issues listed and to abide by current agreements, policies and procedures, as well as agreeing to send out a joint notice confirming this. However since Tuesday the Trust has once more gone back on its agreement with us.

UNISON is aware that there are currently over 120 vacancies on core rota lines (not including abstractions for sickness, maternity etc.), whilst we still have members on permanent relief being allocated shifts outside of agreements.

It was emphasised that no rotas or policies will work with that amount of abstractions and cannot understand how it was allowed to get to that level. Members are still struggling to get annual leave and TOIL in many areas of YAS, end of shift overtime is reaching completely unacceptable levels, and short notice leave is being refused even when available. Binding Arbitration with ACAS in regards to PTS meal breaks -still not resolved.

UNISON in the spirit of partnership working continued to try to resolve the situation throughout the week, however yet again this was not successful and as such UNISON maintained its stance of not attending meetings with the Trust, on the basis that if current agreements cannot be abided by, why would we continue to engage in developing more. The other recognised unions of Unite, GMB and RCN still met the Trust at yesterday’s JSG.

The Trust expects our members to follow agreements, policies and procedures, and disciplines them for not doing so. UNISON believes it is pointless attending meetings to discuss agreements, policies and procedures when the current agreements are being completely disregarded. This is not just on the A and E side, issues have arisen in other areas of the Trust where our members report policies and agreements are being blatantly ignored.

UNISON YAS Branch will be discussing the next steps at the forthcoming Branch Committee meeting, considering all options, including potentially a call for industrial action.

As always we thank ALL members for their continual support. UNISON can assure members that we will continue to fight to protect your terms and conditions.

UNISON Branch Committee