The Branch wish to provide an update in relation to forthcoming action short of strike action (ASOSA) on not using your car for Trust business on Friday 20th January and on strike action planned for Thursday 26th January.
Not using your car for Trust business: This action will commence for one day on Friday 20th January, with further dates planned for February and March. It is in line with NIPSA’s ballot on members concerns re. mileage rates. NIPSA is instructing members to report for work as normal, but if you would then use your car to visit or transport clients, or attend meetings or training you should inform your manager that NIPSA has instructed you not to use your car as it is part of ASOSA. The BHSCT has been legally notified of this action. Branch representatives will be attending derogation meetings today and tomorrow where we will respond to requests that will allow individual staff to respond to emergency situations only i.e. a child protection issue, ASW assessment, adult safeguarding etc. – situations that must have an immediate response and cannot wait until Monday.
NIPSA outlined its reasons for this action in a meeting on Tuesday 17th January to HR Directors, so all managers across all five HSC Trusts and arms lengths bodies are fully aware of this action. The meeting with HR Directors was helpful, and we look forward to future engagement on this issue in the future.
Strike Action: Legal notices have been serviced to the BHSCT that NIPSA is instructing its members to take strike action on Thursday 26th January. This is in line with our ballot and is on Pay, Safe Staffing and Mileage. This action will be for 4 hours and will commence in the BHSCT and NIBTS at 1.00pm ending at 5.00pm. Picket lines will commence at 1pm – the picket lines will be confirmed soon. We are instructing members to walk out from their work at 1pm and join their nearest picket line.
Again, NIPSA along with other trade unions, will attend derogation meetings to consider requests from managers across services to exempt certain workers. The purpose of these derogation meetings is to ensure a cohort of staff remain across vital services to be able to respond to emergencies and in other cases that there is sufficient staffing to be able to provide care to individuals. The Tory Government would make you believe that this doesn’t happen, which is why they are seeking to introduce Draconian anti-trade union legislation that removes the democratic right from members, but it does. We will subsequently be in touch with more information as required.
If you wish to contact us, please do so at nipsa@belfasttrust.hscni.net.
Regards
Damien Maguire/Tanya Killen
Joint Branch Secretaries
Belfast Health Branch