Outcome of the UNISON Pay Consultation 2017
As you may recall, we contacted you a number of weeks ago to ask you to decide how you wanted UNISON to respond to the 1% pay award for 2017/2018. There were two options, to ballot for industrial action, or to use union resources to campaign on a earnings maximisation strategy.
The majority of respondents for Pennine Care Branch were in favour of balloting for industrial action, but it should be noted that we had a very small response rate, with a turnout figure of around only 7% of our members responding. Nonetheless, we fed this result back to the union nationally as part of the consultation process.
Overall, the majority of responding branches expressed a preference to focus efforts on building confidence and capacity (the earnings maximisation option), rather than move immediately to a national ballot.
The overall response rate from branches in England was very low. Of 239 branches only 90 responded.
Taken together the branch results were:
- 61 branches in total prioritised the earnings maximisation strategy.
- 44 branches (including Pennine Care Branch) prioritised an immediate ballot for national industrial action.
It was clear that in most branches only a small proportion of members participated.
In every bargaining area (i.e. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) there was clear support for prioritising earnings maximisation. In only one region – the North West – was there a majority of responding branches that supported an immediate move to ballot for national industrial action.
As such, UNISON nationally has opted to prioritise the earnings maximisation strategy across all four countries, but will keep the situation under review, in particular to consider the outcome of consultation by other unions.
At our recent Health Conference UNISON committed to:
- Ramp up the campaign to challenge government pay policy with the aim of delivering our agreed objectives of a £10 per hour minimum wage and an increase of at least £1 per hour for all AfC staff.
- Oppose any potential breach of Agenda for Change through differential pay rates on the basis of age including the current situation in Northern Ireland.
- Work with the TUC and other NHS trade unions to explore all options for opposing and breaking the 1% pay policy
- Call on the Secretary of State for Health to convene urgent talks with the unions and devolved administrations about how the NHS can return to a ‘sustainable position’ on pay as recommended by the NHS PRB.
- Deliver a political strategy to lobby and influence MPs and policymakers to change government pay policy for the NHS.
- Collaborate to generate capacity and confidence within all NHS Trade Unions such that together we can deliver an effective future challenge to pay policy including consideration of coordinated ballots for lawful industrial action.
As a branch we wanted to thank members who took part in the consultation, and will be looking at local areas and issues to use the resources promised in the earnings maximisation strategy for the benefit of our members.
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Outcome of UNISON Pay Consultation
Outcome of the UNISON Pay Consultation 2017
As you may recall, we contacted you a number of weeks ago to ask you to decide how you wanted UNISON to respond to the 1% pay award for 2017/2018. There were two options, to ballot for industrial action, or to use union resources to campaign on a earnings maximisation strategy.
The majority of respondents for Pennine Care Branch were in favour of balloting for industrial action, but it should be noted that we had a very small response rate, with a turnout figure of around only 7% of our members responding. Nonetheless, we fed this result back to the union nationally as part of the consultation process.
Overall, the majority of responding branches expressed a preference to focus efforts on building confidence and capacity (the earnings maximisation option), rather than move immediately to a national ballot.
The overall response rate from branches in England was very low. Of 239 branches only 90 responded.
Taken together the branch results were:
It was clear that in most branches only a small proportion of members participated.
In every bargaining area (i.e. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) there was clear support for prioritising earnings maximisation. In only one region – the North West – was there a majority of responding branches that supported an immediate move to ballot for national industrial action.
As such, UNISON nationally has opted to prioritise the earnings maximisation strategy across all four countries, but will keep the situation under review, in particular to consider the outcome of consultation by other unions.
At our recent Health Conference UNISON committed to:
As a branch we wanted to thank members who took part in the consultation, and will be looking at local areas and issues to use the resources promised in the earnings maximisation strategy for the benefit of our members.