General Update
Pensions Choice – UNISON are aware that staff have received a letter regarding pensions choice, as a union we are unable to provide advice on pensions as it is classed as financial advice and as such can only be given by people who are a registered Independent Financial Advisor. UNISON do however have access to Lighthouse Financial Advice and we are hoping to set up some meetings with them in the very near future. We will let you know the dates asap. In the meantime, if you wish, you can contact them via their website by clicking on the following link;
http://www.lighthousefa.co.uk/affinity_groups/unison.aspx
PTS Meal Break – Unfortunately the branch committee have had to conclude that they have done all they can in relation to legally challenging the PTS meal break subsistence. Clearly this is disappointing and leaves the issue without a conclusion. Should any individual or groups of members wish to take a case up they will of course be supported as much as possible by the branch although we must make it clear that financial support is not a possibility.
Temporary Injury Allowance – The trust appear to be making it as difficult as possible for staff to claim Temporary Injury Allowance (TIA) and in some cases have turned people down in circumstances that we feel are outside national guidance. In light of this we would like to urge staff to take extra care and not take any risks because the trust will clearly not back you up if anything goes wrong.
In all circumstances, where you injure yourself at work, call UNISON Direct on 0800 0 857 857 to instigate a Personal Injury Claim. Whilst the trust will say that there is no link between that and a decision regarding TIA it is our belief that further down the line it would be difficult for the trust to deny someone TIA if they had accepted any liability for personal injury. Either way it is a potential route for claiming the missing pay, should the trust refuse TIA. If a personal injury claim is successful then it can be claimed as loss of earnings.
Lone workers are having particular difficulties as, without a witness, the starting point for the trust seems to be it didn’t happen, unless you can prove otherwise. Again, do not take any risks!
Telemetry – Staff need to be aware that management are trying to use information from vehicle telemetry to instigate fact finding meetings presumably with a view to then disciplining staff. Some time ago we were invited to attend a ‘steering group’ involved with introducing it on to PTS, we said that we didn’t believe it was necessary and said that the only chance of us getting involved was if the trust would guarantee that the information would not be used to discipline our members. Needless to say the trust would not commit to that and we have nothing to do with the steering group. UNISON cannot and will not agree to this Big Brother approach.
Industrial Action - The next Industrial Action for the ambulance service is scheduled for Thursday 29th January from 12 noon to midnight. These times differ from the rest of the NHS; as such we will be issuing further guidance regarding exemptions, crossing other picket lines etc. asap.
